Impact of Domestic Violence and Parental Divorce on Child's Mental Health in UK

Public Health Research Methods:PUB016-6
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A systematic review: Impact of domestic violence and parental
divorce on child's mental health in United Kingdom.

Abstract
This research focuses on investigating the domestic violence and divorce rates implications on
the children of the UK, as well as to investigate the short term, and long term effects of these
situations in the children. It is seen that the UK faces 1.32 million domestic violence cases and
faces divorce rates of 7.5% among 1000 men and 8.1% among women. Children are the hidden
effect of domestic abuse and in case these situations go on a daily basis it will create adverse
psychological effects on the children and they will generate anxiety, depression, loneliness, they
will try to be disconnected with society.
The methodology in this study is use of systematic review which involves analysis of different
articles relating to research topic. Interviews will be incorporated as primary qualitative research
and offline surveys and focus groups will be incorporated as the primary quantitative research.
Systematic review will be held in this research based on the different articles from the PubMed
and BMJ applying all the criteria of inclusion and exclusion. The implications of this study will
be greater awareness among the parents, schools, counselling systems and it will also increase
awareness of the UK government to include more efficient steps to help the children. There are
various limitations that include exclusion of both primary and secondary data, inclusion of 10-12
year children and exclusion of their parents. The future researchers will be properly benefited by
the findings of the research and will get a research framework also. Sound dissemination of this
research is also important to transmit the reliable information via National Health services,
Public Health of England, Journal of Public Health and British Medical Journal.
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Table of Contents
1.0
1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Study background.............................................................................................................. 4
1.2 Literature background.........................................................................................................5
1.3 Rationale............................................................................................................................ 6
1.4 Research questions............................................................................................................9
1.5 Research aim..................................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Research objectives........................................................................................................... 9
2.0 Methodology.......................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Design of the research.....................................................................................................10
2.2 Inclusion and exclusion criteria.........................................................................................10
2.3 Searching strategies.........................................................................................................11
2.4 Screening strategies.........................................................................................................12
2.5 Extraction of data ............................................................................................................ 12
2.6 Quality appraisal............................................................................................................... 12
2.7 Ethical consideration........................................................................................................ 13
2.8 Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 13
3.0 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 15
3.1 Reflection on possible findings ........................................................................................15
3.2 Research limitations ........................................................................................................16
3.3 Dissemination .................................................................................................................. 17
4.0 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Future research................................................................................................................ 18
4.2 Final thoughts................................................................................................................... 18
Reference list............................................................................................................................. 20
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Study background
Domestic violence and divorce seem to be the most prevailing case within the domain of the UK.
Looking at the statistics of the UK, as of 2019, 1316800 crimes were recorded by the police
overall. Among the mentioned number of crimes, 146219 were marked as domestic abuse
(Office for National Statistics, 2020). The statistics viably defines 24% increase of the damage
than the previous year (Office for National Statistics, 2020). It also depicts that domestic abuse is
capable of affecting 1 out of 4 men and 1 out of 6 women in their lifetime (Living without
Abuse, 2020). Hence, the abuse seems to be affecting the women population of the nation more
than the men population.
Figure 1: Domestic abuse in the UK
(Source: Office for National Statistics, 2020)
While, the rate of divorce also seems to be increasing and have been a significant cause for the
degrading mental constitution of the children. It can be observed that the average rate for
marriage within the nation seems to be 30 years (Office for National Statistics, 2020). However,
there appears to be an administrative reason behind the rising rate of divorce within the nation.
As per the statement of Abel et al. (2019), it seems to be affecting the minds of the children, and
thus the children seem to be facing a mental disorder. It is because observing the abuse in front
of the eyes, along with the separation of the parents seems to create pressure within the spiritual
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condition of the children. It also appears to be affecting the inner peace within the children
(Afzelius et al. 2017). The prevailing situation is affective in impacting on the career of the
children and also seems to be degrading their nature and outlook. Hence, divorce, along with
domestic abuse appears to be the most common cause is affecting the mental condition of the
children within the domain of the UK.
1.2 Literature background
Figure 2: Literature background for methodology
(Source: Influenced by Abel et al. 2019)
From the above figure, it can be observed that articles will be selected along with the selection.
The research will be specified to articles dealing with child counselling along with excluding
article from non-medical sources. Articles will be selected based on the inclusion criteria. The
article will be included from sources such as Medline or PubMed, BMJ, EBSCO. Further,
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Articles
Articles excluded
Exclude article from
non- medical sources
Articles included
Include from sources such
as Medline or Pubmed,
EBSCO
Articles selected
Criteria of inclusion
based on mental issue of
child from diverse case
and domestic abuse

articles will be selected from the chosen total literature sources based on the frequency of
appointment and popularity among the healthcare centres. It will be from the criteria of inclusion
based on mental issue of child from diverse case and domestic abuse. Based on the mentioned
criteria, the researchers will be able to analyse the impact of divorce and domestic violence on
the mental condition of the children. It will also be useful in analysing the current alongside
long-term impact within the mental state of the children in the UK.
1.3 Rationale
Gender-based violence on girls is common in the modern world also, underpinning the fact of
inequality and aggressively penetrated upon women. Domestic violence comes with several
forms such as human trafficking, slavery, sexual abuse, forced marriage and others (Refuge,
2020). Domestic violence is that resulted upon the women by their partner to obtain or control
the power. In the UK, at the end of 2019, there were 1.32 million cases of domestic violence got
accounted, and 746,219 cases were handled by police to arrest the accused (Office for National
Statistics, 2019). 2.4 million Cases of age 16 to 74 were also noted in March 2019, most of them
were women (1.6 million). Hence, this research is of importance in term of implication for
making policy. This is important for the reason that when study will take place relating to the
domestic violence then it will bring out data relating to problem. Hence, this will assist people in
analysing current situation and impact of divorce on child well- being and it will assist them in
making policy.
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