Peer-reviewed article

Domestic violence against children with disabilities

Christine K. Syriopoulou–Delli, Theano Varveli · 4 Nov 2025

Abstract

Objectives This review investigates domestic violence against children with disabilities, focusing on the forms, causes, and consequences of such violence through the theoretical framework of the ecological model. The aim of the research is to understand the risk factors that increase the vulnerability of children with disabilities to abuse, as well as to explore the impact on their physical, psychological, and social development.Methods The methodological approach employed is a systematic review of international and Greek literature.Results While disability is prevalent in the general population, studies focusing specifically on children indicate that prevalence is lower among this age group, highlighting the importance of age-specific data. The review highlights the main forms of abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional), along with the multifactorial causes that perpetuate them, such as parental psychological burden, lack of social support, cultural perceptions of disability, and socioeconomic difficulties.Conclusion Existing evidence suggests that children with disabilities are disproportionately exposed to multiple forms of domestic violence compared to their non-disabled peers. Special emphasis is placed on the Greek context, where empirical research in this field remains scarce. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted prevention and intervention programs, professional training for those working with children with disabilities, and the implementation of protective institutional policies. The review concludes with recommendations for future research, emphasizing the importance of strengthening scientific knowledge in Greece.