While there is much good quality evidence for the support offered to adult survivors of domestic abuse, there is very little evidence for what might help children from these families.

Children living in a home where there is domestic violence, even if they don’t directly witness violent acts, are more likely to suffer problematic behaviour, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and educational problems. As adults they are more likely to have mental health problems, be unemployed, and perpetrate or experience domestic violence.

Researchers from the universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Central Lancashire and Canada’s McMaster University have examined all the existing studies on this issue, as well as interviewing parents, children and professionals in the field.

They recommend that there should be more in-depth studies in the UK to understand which programmes work, and which don’t.

They also recommend that the programmes’ effectiveness should be measured against outcomes that children, parents, service providers and policymakers think are important.

Read the full 'CLAHRCBITE' summary.