Gender Based Domestique Violence and Children Witnessed Violence

Journal title MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA
Author/s Elvira Reale
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/3
Language Italian Pages 23 P. 35-54 File size 239 KB
DOI 10.3280/MAL2025-003003
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Scientific literature and international documents clearly show that domestic gender violence affects children even when they are not direct victims of violence. Among the 588 women who contacted the anti-violence centers of the Municipality of Naples in 2023, our research interviewed 168 of the 317 who had children. The experiences and behaviors of 272 children (138 boys and 134 girls) were examined. The mothers’ reports highlighted reactions such as interposition, withdrawal, crying, screaming, agitation, enuresis, freezing, and crying for help. The effects of domestic violence, which are numerous and convergent, differ by gender and age group, both in terms of the response modality and timing.

Keywords: violence against women, IPV, witnessed violence, judicial practice, gender.

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Elvira Reale, Violenza Domestica sulle Donne e Maltrattamento Assistito di Bambine e Bambini in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 3/2025, pp 35-54, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2025-003003