PERCEIVED IMPACT OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN’S PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ABIA STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

This study was carried out in Abia State, Nigeria to determine the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the psychosocial development of children by professional counsellors. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 103 professional counsellors in Abia State. Sixty-three professional counsellors with more than five years of experience were purposively sampled. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers and validated by experts with reliability index of .84 obtained using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation at a two-week interval. Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the internal consistency which yielded a value of .79. The findings show that majority of the professional counsellors surveyed identified the items as perceived impact of IPV on the psychological development of children ranging from low self-esteem to suicidal ideation. Again, majority of the participants with 5 to 10 years of counselling experience did not perceive most of the items addressing the impact of IPV on the social development of children. However, participants with 11 years and above identified all the items as perceived impact of IPV on the social development of children. The hypotheses were rejected. It was concluded that professional counsellors had good knowledge of the impact of IPV on the psychosocial development of children though they differed by years of experience. Enriching the curriculum content of counsellor trainees with IPV contents is recommended among others. Counselling implications were highlighted.