Fathers’ Absence after Intimate Partner Violence and the Impact on Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being: A Scoping Review

Background and Purpose:
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important public health problem with documented consequences for children’s mental health and development. However, one pathway through which IPV might impact children that is understudied is fathers’ absence after violent relationships. The IPV-altered father-child relationship that may leave children further exposed to trauma, with long-term psychosocial ramifications. Despite increasing research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), no systematic evidence exists on how fathers' absence following IPV exposure relates to children’s mental health and well-being. This study reviews existing evidence on how fathers’ absence after IPV affects children’s mental health and wellbeing outcomes in the United States. It addresses an important gap in family-centered IPV research and helps inform future interventions.

Methods:
This study conducted a scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. A thorough search was performed across Google Scholar and multiple databases, including Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, Social Work Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Women’s Studies International, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Education Source, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, Taylor and Francis Online, Family Studies Abstracts, Web of Science, Violence and Abuse Abstracts, ERIC, etc. The screening, duplicate removal, and selection processes were handled using Covidence. Inclusion criteria focused on empirical U.S.-based studies involving children aged 0-18 exposed to IPV and fathers' absence, with reported mental health or psychosocial outcomes. Out of 772 records identified, 344 duplicates were eliminated, and 428 studies were screened. Among the 48 full-text articles reviewed for eligibility, 17 studies met the criteria and were included in the final analysis.

Results:

The results were synthesized into four overarching domains representing the child outcomes associated with fathers’ absence post-IPV. First, the evidence demonstrated a consistent pattern whereby fathers' absence following IPV increased the risk for poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychological distress. Second, children with fathers' absence in cases of IPV had higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems, including aggression, conduct issues, and emotional dysregulation. Third, research reported severe social and relational problems, including disturbed peer relationships and reduced social functioning. Finally, cumulative exposure to IPV, fathers' absence, and other ACEs intensified negative developmental outcomes, including poorer academic performance and elevated risk of long-term maladaptive behaviors.

Conclusion and Implications:

This review identifies fathers’ absence after IPV as a critical yet underrecognized pathway shaping children’s mental health and developmental outcomes. Findings underscore the need for trauma-informed, family-centered interventions that address both exposure to IPV and disruptions in father involvement. Integrated services that facilitate safe father engagement where appropriate, support caregiver–child relationships (for both mothers and fathers) and mitigate cumulative adversity should be promoted as a best practice in social work practice and policy. This information shall inform future research on causal mechanisms linking fathers' absence to child outcomes and guide the implementation of targeted, evidence-based interventions to reduce long-term risk for children affected by IPV-related family disruption.

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