Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Debbie SmartORCiD, Dr Hayley AldersonORCiD, Carrie Barron, Hilda Frost, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD, Dr Simon Hackett, Professor Ruth McGovernORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2026.Background: Parental Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPVA) is a complex issue, which requires a sensitive response from a range of services. This review aimed to identify and synthesise qualitative research examining the perceptions and experiences of parents and children affected by IPVA and their interactions or engagement with various child welfare, health and legal systems and services. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the international literature, searching 11 electronic databases from inception to November 2023 and supplemented this with a grey literature search. Studies were included if they provided qualitative accounts from adult and/or child victims/survivors of IPVA and/or adult perpetrators reporting on experiences of child welfare, health, and/or criminal justice intervention. Results: A thematic synthesis of 39 individual studies (38 papers and 1 book chapter) which include the perspectives of (n-825) mothers/adult females (n-107) children and (n-58) fathers was undertaken. Three overarching themes were identified: (1) the importance of supporting the family whilst safeguarding the child (2) systems failing of services to hold the perpetrator to account and (3) systems that retraumatize the Family. Conclusions: Services should provide a whole-family approach, which responds to the needs both the parent and child victim/survivor, and recognises the parental identity of the perpetrator. Interventions with adult victims/survivors should take a strengths-based approach, whilst holding the perpetrator to account. Particular care is needed when families are involved in family court to avoid re-traumatisation.
Author(s): McGovern W, Smart D, Alderson H, Barron C, Cooling V, Frost H, Kaner E, Hackett S, McGovern R
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMC Public Health
Year: 2026
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
Online publication date: 08/06/2026
Acceptance date: 24/02/2026
ISSN (electronic): 1471-2458
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26838-y
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-26838-y
PubMed id: 41794712
Data Access Statement: Details of includes studies are provided within the manuscript and referenced. Extracted data available on request.
