Parental intimate partner homicide: Children's and caregivers' perspectives

Introduction: Parental intimate partner homicide has a major impact on children, their family, and environment. It also requires professionals to take decisions (e.g. regarding living arrangements) that may have far-reaching... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: Parental intimate partner homicide has a major impact on children, their family, and environment. It also requires professionals to take decisions (e.g. regarding living arrangements) that may have far-reaching consequences. Little is known about children’s own perspectives in this regard. We aimed to give children and young people bereaved by intimate partner homicide and their caregivers a voice, in order to better understand their views and improve care.

Method: Within a larger mixed-methods study, we conducted interviews with children, young people and caregivers from 21 families affected by intimate partner homicide. We explored the experiences of the participants with placements, custody and guardianship, contact with families from the victim and the perpetrator, contact with the perpetrator-parent, and the services received from the relevant agencies. We transcribed the interviews and analysed them thematically.

Results: Many of the children interviewed were living in a fragile equilibrium. Participants reported a variety of placement arrangements, and for all of the main types of arrangements (with family of the victim, with family of the perpetrator, with a neutral family), there were successful examples. Conflict between both sides of the family, perpetrator visiting or lack thereof against the wishes of the child, and legal procedures were experienced as disruptive factors in children’s well-being.

Conclusions: The findings can help inform and refine current frameworks child outcomes after fatal domestic violence. Careful assessment of not only children’s well-being but also their perspectives on decisions regarding placement and contact with the perpetrator are essential elements of effective services for children bereaved by intimate partner homicide.