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Health experts describe long-term and intergenerational harms of domestic violence, and urge prevention
Summary
Public‑health experts on the panel described psychological, developmental and reproductive health harms that follow exposure to domestic violence and recommended prevention beginning with early education, screening during pregnancy and expanded primary prevention efforts in schools.
Panelists connected domestic violence to a wide range of long‑term health harms, from depression and suicidal ideation to adverse maternal and infant outcomes and intergenerational trauma. Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio, a public‑health researcher and former trauma therapist, described how exposure to caregiver‑perpetrated violence shapes a child's worldview and can increase risk of future victimization or perpetration.
"When somebody is abused, hurt, or even neglected by a caregiver or by a loved one... it deeply affects you," Aparicio said, urging expanded prevention and early‑intervention programming in schools. Dr. Denise McCain added that pregnancy is a recognized risk period and that clinicians should ask questions about safety in ways that protect privacy.
Christine Cooley, who manages forensic services at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, highlighted long‑term psychological consequences for survivors and children, noting links to depression and increased suicide risk. The panel recommended universal prevention education (consent and healthy relationships), targeted screening during medical visits—particularly perinatal care—and scaling successful mentoring and survivor‑support programs.
