État des lieux des recherches sur les enfants exposés à la violence conjugale

Witnessing interparental violence in childhood and symptoms of depression in adulthood: data from the 2017 French Health Barometer

BACKGROUND

Every year, it is estimated that 143 000 French children are exposed to interparental violence (IPV). This exposure may have deleterious lifelong impact on mental health.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations between exposure to IPV in childhood and, as adults, the presence of depressive symptoms during the past year, suicidal thoughts and lifetime suicide attempt.

METHODS

Our study is based on data from the 2017 French Health Barometer, a general population cross-sectional phone survey. 25 319 adults living in Metropolitan France responded. Data were weighted to obtain a representative sample of the French population. Associations between childhood exposure to IPV and each of three outcomes in adulthood-symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation in the past year and lifetime suicide attempt-were studied by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), stratifying by sex and using multivariate models (logistic regression).

RESULTS

After adjustment for age, social variables, negative life events in childhood and lifetime history of sexual violence, reporting witnessed IPV is significantly associated with the presence of symptoms of depression during the past 12 months (aORmen = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.49-2.38, and aORwomen = 2.00, 1.72-2.32), suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months (aORmen = 1.97, 1.48-2.64, and aORwomen = 2.35, 1.89-2.93), and at least one lifetime suicide attempt (aORmen =2.39, 1.83-3.11 and aORwomen = 2.66, 2.25-3.16).

CONCLUSION

Associations shown between a history of exposure to IPV and three mental health indicators in adulthood underline the need to study the lifelong impact of IPV.

Typological Analysis of Victimization Profiles of Young Children

Although the scope of violence against children has been well documented, the reality of this phenomenon remains to be examined. Using data collected during a populationbased survey on the polyvictimization of children between 2 and 11 years old, this study explores the profiles of 972 children who are victims of many forms of violence (in family, school, and/or community). Cluster analyses identified 4 groups (minimal victimization, generalized victimization, threatening environment, aggressive environment), which differ according to the forms and extent of the violence experienced. The role of age, gender, and adverse life events in forming groups is also examined, as are the links with mental health disorders. Fostering the examination of the phenomenon of violence against children in all its diversity, this taxonomy presents advantages for researchers and professionals, which are discussed.