University Students' Perceptions of the Effects of Domestic Violence on the Mental Health of Children: Evidence from Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Children who experience domestic violence may suffer from depression, anxiety, emotional distress, behavioral and social adjustment problems, and other negative effects. The present study was conducted to explore the University students' perception of these mental health effects in Lahore, Pakistan. A quantitative survey was carried out on 384 students chosen from three universities. The results indicated that the majority of the respondents were very strongly in agreement that children's emotional health, psychological development and their sense of safety are negatively impacted by domestic violence. There was also a strong correlation between domestic violence and children's mental disorders as found through statistical analysis. The findings show that educated young adults know that domestic violence is a major problem for children's mental health. The study highlights the importance of public awareness, child protection measures, and trauma-informed counseling services. It also recommends that all families, education providers and policy-makers should collaborate to help prevent violence and to jointly provide prevention, intervention and rehabilitation services across communities for children who have been abused and/or impacted by domestic violence.