Understanding What Children Say

We have a limited understanding of children’s experiences of domestic violence, parental substance misuse and parental health problems. The complex dynamics that can surround families dealing with these issues may make it difficult for parents and professionals to understand how children feel. As a result, children’s needs are often overlooked and they do not receive the support they need.

This book draws on a literature review and explores what children say about living in families where there is domestic violence, parental substance misuse or parental health problems. It examines research undertaken in the UK to provide us with a better understanding of the range of children’s experience. It describes the key themes in children’s experiences, how children feel about the difficulties they experience at home, what their coping strategies are and the support they would like to receive.