DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH
Heather NancarrowDirectorQueensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
Nature and prevalence Impacts
GeneralBabies and toddlersChildren 4 – 12 yearsYoung people
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
Key initiatives / responses Concluding comments
NATURE
Emotional Verbal Psychological / spiritual Financial abuse Sexual / Physical
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GENDERED
Victims Perpetrators
87 % female 98% male
(Access Economics, 2004)
Gender differences in:motivation, frequency, severity , outcomes
(Dobash, Dobash, Wilson and Daly, 1992; James ,1999
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GENDERED
PREVALENCE
Current relationships
*Mouzos & Makkai, 2004
†Nancarrow, Lockie, Sharma, 2009
Australia* Queensland†
Non-physical 37% 31%
Physical 10% 11.5%NB: Indicative – studies not directly comparable
NON-FATAL IMPACTS
Physical injuriesFractures, lacerations, bruises
Reproductive healthSTI, termination, birth complications,
miscarriage
Mental healthDepression, anxiety , eating disorders
traumatic and post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias
NON-FATAL IMPACTS
Unhealthy practicesHarmful tobacco and alcohol use, illicit
drugs
OtherChronic pain, sleep disorders,
homelessness / transience, poverty
FATAL IMPACTS
Homicide
Suicide
STIs
Death during/following childbirth
HOMICIDE
Intimate partner homicide
Australia Queensland
77 p.a. 11 p.a
Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003
NB: Under-counting due to data collection / reporting
HOMICIDE
Homicide of children by parents• Average 25 p.a.• Killer: 63% fathers
Motives:• 3 of 5 cases unknown• 21% - ‘domestic altercation’• 9% - ‘family breakdown’
Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
Physical abuse
Condition
Any physical abuse
Severe physical abuse
Within last 12 months
Sexual abuse
Times more likely
Depression 3.7 10.9 8.8 4.8
Severe psychological symptoms
4.4 13.4 10.7 -
Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
Non-physical abuse
Condition
Any non-physical
Psych.
Social-psych.
Economic
Times more likely
Depression3.6 3.0 4.2 4.7
Severe psychological symptoms
5.2 3.7 5.6 4.5
Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009
CHILDREN’S REACTIONS
Tension, fear, aggression, uncertainty feelings:
Fear Terror DreadWorry Sadness
Helplessness Numbness
Anger Guilt Self-blame
Shame
IMPACTS: BABIES & TODDLERS Impaired brain development / social
development
Greater irritability
Psychosomatic illness, sleep/eating disorders
Aggression
IMPACTS: CHILDREN 4 – 12 YEARS Poor concentration
Aggression, hyperactivity, disobedience
Disturbed sleep, nightmares
Withdrawal, low self-esteem
Showing no emotion (’spaced out’)
Always on edge, wary
IMPACTS: YOUNG PEOPLE
Depression Suicide Aggression
Sexual/physical violence
Substance abuse
Withdrawal Parental abuse
OPPORTUNITIES
Time for Action
Qld Government strategy
Coming attractions:Battered person’s defence – draft bill
Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum
THANK YOU
www.noviolence.com.au
The Q’ld Department of Communities provides triennial funding for the Q’ld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research to undertake
research, evaluation, sector development and community engagement on issues pertaining to domestic and family violence.