The overlap of child abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence in court-involved children with a history of maltreatment: Frequency and correlates

Background Child maltreatment––including child abuse and neglect (CAN) and exposure to domestic violence (EDV)––is a pervasive international issue. Although research on maltreatment is extensive, studies of co-occurring CAN and EDV among court-involved samples are limited. Objective Among a court-involved sample of maltreated children referred for expert psychological assessment, this study examined (1) the frequency of CAN and EDV, (2) the co-occurrence of maltreatment subtypes (including EDV), and (3) risk factors associated with co-occurring CAN and EDV. Participants and setting We conducted a retrospective examination of case records for 279 Australian children (child age M = 7.96 years, SD = 4.25 years) within 151 families referred for psychological assessment due to maltreatment-related child protective concerns by the Children's Court of Victoria. Methods Descriptive analyses assessed the frequency and co-occurrence of maltreatment subtypes. Binary logistic regression models examined child, parent, and family-level risk factors associated with co-occurring CAN and EDV. Results Nearly two-thirds (63.44%) of children experienced both CAN and EDV. Over three quarters (77.42%; n = 216) experienced two or more of the five types of maltreatment. The most common combination was EDV with neglect (20.07%, n = 52). Significant risk factors associated with the co-occurrence of CAN and EDV included child (serious behaviour problems), parent (substance use), and family-level (serious family and socioeconomic stress, lack of social support) variables. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the high co-occurrence of CAN and EDV, and their complex risk profile, among court-involved families with these experiences. Implications, including the prioritization of children and families for support and intervention, are discussed.