Not Just Witnesses: Children’s Cognitive Appraisal and Coping In the Context of Intimate Partner Violence In Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood is a significant public health concern with well-documented implications for mental health, behavioral functioning, and long-term developmental outcomes (Kitzmann et al., 2003; Madigan et al., 2025). Children exposed to IPV often experience trauma-related symptomatology and disruptions in cognitive and emotional development, which can shape how they interpret and respond to violence (Miranda et al., 2021; Wadji et al., 2025). Despite growing recognition of these impacts, limited research, particularly in low-resource and underrepresented contexts, has centered children’s own perspectives on their experiences of IPV and their coping processes. This study is the first empirical work in Nigeria documenting children’s cognitive appraisal of IPV. Underpinned by cognitive contextual (Grych & Cardoza-Fernandes, 2001) and transactional stress theories (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987), the study addresses the following research questions: (1) How do children interpret and construct meaning from IPV exposure? and (2) What coping strategies do they employ in response to such experiences?.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design to capture children’s lived experiences of IPV. Twenty-four participants (aged 9-16) with documented exposure were recruited through a federal agency using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in safe and confidential settings. Interview protocols explored children’s perceptions of violence, emotional responses, coping behaviors. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Coding followed an iterative process integrating inductive and deductive approaches. Methodological rigor was strengthened through analyst triangulation, peer debriefing, and maintenance of comprehensive audit trail.

Findings: Preliminary findings indicate that children actively engage in complex cognitive appraisal processes when exposed to IPV, often interpreting violence through lenses of self-blame, normalization, or protective responsibility toward caregivers. Coping strategies varied widely and included both adaptive responses (e.g., seeking social support, emotional regulation, distraction) and maladaptive strategies (e.g., avoidance, emotional suppression, role reversal, and direct intervention in violent incidents). Many participants described assuming adult-like roles within the household, including attempts to mediate conflict or protect victims, which in some cases resulted in secondary victimization. Findings also highlight variability in coping based on age, gender, and access to supportive resources.

Conclusion: This study revealed the importance of centering children’s voices in IPV research and intervention development. Findings suggest that children are not passive witnesses but active interpreters of violence whose coping strategies are shaped by both individual and contextual factors. Implications for practice include the need for trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate interventions that address children’s cognitive appraisals and support adaptive coping. At the policy level, results support increased investment in child-focused trauma services and early intervention programs, including those supported through legislation such as the Rise from Trauma Act. Future research should examine longitudinal trajectories and evaluate culturally responsive interventions designed to disrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma and violence.