ABSTRACT
In this chapter I discuss the impact of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) on children and young people's (CYP) mental health. My primary focus is on the development of internalising symptoms (anxiety, depression, social withdrawal and somatic complaints), whilst recognising that many CYP demonstrate resilience in the face of such adversity. First, I will discuss the evidence base for the effect of DVA on internalising symptoms followed by an account of recent research which aimed to overcome some of the previous limitations observed within the field. The relationship between DVA and direct child abuse will then be explored posing the question of whether the two necessarily need to be distinguished in practice. Should DVA be considered a form of child maltreatment or an environmental factor which exacerbates the negative effects of child maltreatment on CYPs mental health?
