Unseen but Not Unheard: A Qualitative Study on Social Workers in Illinois, USA, That Work with Children Who Witness Domestic Violence

Sammanfattning: According to a previous study on domestic violence, in homes where violence occurs, 90 percent of children witness the abuse that takes place. The aim of this study is to understand how witnessing domestic violence affects children. Through six semi-structured interviews with social workers in Chicago and Decatur, Illinois, the impact on children who have witnessed violence in the home, and the methods used to help these children, will be discussed. This study was conducted using a qualitative research method. The study’s findings have been analyzed using Abraham Maslow’s theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Richard Lazarus and Suzan Folkman’s theory of coping. The results show that social workers describe domestic violence as a multifaceted problem that, when witnessed by children, can significantly impact a child’s general health and well-being. Two methods, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Child-Centered Play Therapy, that are used to help children exposed to domestic violence overcome their anxieties and traumas are also discussed.