The recent Domestic Abuse Commissioners report (April 2025) documents the finding that less than a third of victim-survivors of domestic abuse were able to access support for their children. Domestic abuse has profound effects on children’s development psychologically and socially and negatively impacts school life and achievements (Cleaver et al., 2019; Lamela et al., 2021). Prior research (Lapeirre, 2010) identifies that central to the perpetrators abuse is the exercise of control and domination, this often transpires as attacking behaviours which seek to demean and demoralise the non-abusive parent. Along these lines, perpetrators will often seek to destroy the child’s relationship with the non-abusive parent together with the child’s respect for that parent (Radford et al., 2011). Researchers are finding that children can move from being passive victims to wanting to help mothers/non-abusive parents find ways of coping and ways out of abuse (Overlien and Hyden, 2009; Katz, 2015). Prior research has found the relationship of mothers/non-abusive parent and child/ren as crucial, and in focusing on their agency and abilities, wellbeing and recovery from domestic abuse can be encouraging (Katz, 2015). This seminar will explore holistic programmes available to non-abusive parent and child/ren in the UK recognising the complex interaction of experiences and perspectives between mother and child.
About the speakers
Dr Anna Kopec Massey is a Research Assistant at Bournemouth University. She holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and a master’s degree in human rights and social justice. Anna completed her PhD entitled: The role of empathy in social enterprise in 2017 and has since worked as both a Lecturer and Researcher in the field of social sciences. Anna’s research interests include the power of empathy in creating shared goals and motivating action.
Dr Jane Healy is Principal Academic in Criminology at Bournemouth University. She is currently project lead on an interdisciplinary project evaluating a domestic abuse support programme for non-abusive carers and their children, for Yellow Door Southampton. Jane's research expertise spans across hate crimes and domestic violence and abuse.
If you would like to attend this free online event, please follow the link below to book a place.
https://forms.office.com/e/8XDwkiVNzF
This is Seminar 10 of the 2025/26 Centre for Gender and Violence Research Seminar Series. Please see the 2026 Events page for further events in this series.