IMPACTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN'S PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Marital violence is a complex and persistent social phenomenon, with repercussions that extend beyond the relationship between partners and significantly affect the psychosocial development of children exposed to this context. The present study aimed to analyze the impacts of indirect exposure to marital violence on child psychosocial development, with emphasis on emotional, behavioral, and social aspects. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative and exploratory approach, conducted in the SciELO and CAPES Periodicals Portal databases, covering publications from 2020 to 2025. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 articles were selected and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings were organized into three categories: manifestations of marital violence within the family context; impacts on children’s emotional, behavioral, and social development; and public policies and coping strategies. The results showed that marital violence is expressed through physical, psychological, moral, sexual, and patrimonial forms of aggression, often associated with socioeconomic vulnerability, weakened family bonds, and insufficient support networks. It was observed that children exposed to violence, even indirectly, present emotional, cognitive, and social impairments, including psychological distress, insecurity, learning difficulties, and behavioral changes, as well as a risk of intergenerational transmission of violence. It is concluded that marital violence broadly compromises child psychosocial development, highlighting the need to strengthen public policies, enhance intersectoral coordination, and recognize children as indirect victims of marital violence.