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Correlations Among Childhood Abuse and Family Violence, Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment from a Trauma-Focused Perspective

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Abstract

Much has been written on the consequences and trauma of child abuse – physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological abuse – as well as physical, emotional and educational neglect of children, along with the emotional, physical, and developmental costs to victims and their families. This chapter attempts to evaluate the relationship between childhood abuse and violence within the family, whether it is parent-caregiver or sibling perpetrated, or committed by an influential adult in the child’s life, such as a secondary caregiver, or a teacher, religious leader, coach, or community member. The researchers reviewed a number of studies and determined that experienced or witnessed abuse, committed by a family member or caregiver, had a significant correlated relationship to family violence. In addition, treatment approaches, using a trauma-informed lens were reviewed. It is important to consider the latest evidence-based practices to identify and assess those affected by both child abuse and family violence. It is equally important to develop treatment and prevention modalities, using trauma-informed approaches, to mitigate the lifelong effects of both child abuse and family violence, so that those who have suffered such abuse as a child, with a family context, have sufficient opportunities to own and control their trauma narratives, in order to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville, PA, USA

    Marc V. Felizzi & Karen Rice

Authors
  1. Marc V. Felizzi
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  2. Karen Rice
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc V. Felizzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Robert Geffner

  2. School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensbo, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Jacquelyn W. White

  3. Dept of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    L. Kevin Hamberger

  4. Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA

    Alan Rosenbaum

  5. Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Viola Vaughan-Eden

  6. Education and Research, Zero Abuse Project, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Victor I. Vieth

Section Editor information

  1. Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Ernestine Briggs

  2. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Javonda Williams

  3. Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School/Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Michelle Clayton

  4. New Orleans Child Advocacy Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Stacie LeBlanc

  5. School of Social Work - PhD Program, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Viola Vaughan-Eden

  6. Owner/Principle Consultant & Trainer, Russell Consulting Specialists, LLc, Vancouver, Washington, USA

    Amy Russell

  7. Executive Director, Arthur D. Curtis Children's Justice Center http://www.clark.wa.gov/cjc

    Amy Russell

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Felizzi, M.V., Rice, K. (2020). Correlations Among Childhood Abuse and Family Violence, Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment from a Trauma-Focused Perspective. In: Geffner, R., White, J.W., Hamberger, L.K., Rosenbaum, A., Vaughan-Eden, V., Vieth, V.I. (eds) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_172-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_172-1

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