Peer-reviewed article
Family violence against children in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: a review of current perspectives and risk factors
Noemí Pereda, Diego A. Díaz-Faes ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This review examines how COVID-19 pandemic containment measures increased the risk of family violence against children in Spain and worldwide. Social isolation, economic instability, job losses, and stress trapped children at home with limited access to protective resources and support systems. The authors argue that restrictive measures were not accompanied by adequate analysis of how to maintain access to violence prevention services. They call for urgent interventions to protect children's rights during the pandemic and beyond.
Key points
- COVID-19 lockdowns and social isolation increased family stress in vulnerable households, raising violence risks for children
- Mandatory lockdowns isolated children from people and resources that could provide protection and help
- Economic instability, job losses, and fear of the virus contributed to elevated tension in families
- Restrictive measures were not paired with analysis of access to resources needed to reduce violence risk
- Urgent intervention in high-risk contexts is necessary to protect children's rights and development
Limitations
This is a review of current perspectives and risk factors rather than an empirical study, so it does not provide quantitative evidence on the extent of violence increases or the effectiveness of specific protective interventions. The document offers theoretical explanation rather than data on outcomes.
Abstract
The situation of crisis produced by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses major challenges to societies all over the world. While efforts to contain the virus are vital to protect global health, these same efforts are exposing children and adolescents to an increased risk of family violence. Various criminological theories explain the causes of this new danger. The social isolation required by the measures taken in the different countries, the impact on jobs, the economic instability, high levels of tension and fear of the virus, and new forms of relationships have all increased levels of stress in the most vulnerable families and, therefore, the risk of violence. In addition, mandatory lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the disease have trapped children in their homes, isolating them from the people and the resources that could help them. In general, the restrictive measures imposed in many countries have not been accompanied by an analysis of the access to the resources needed to reduce this risk. It is necessary to take urgent measures to intervene in these high-risk contexts so that children and adolescents can develop and prosper in a society which is likely to undergo profound changes, but in which the defense of their rights and protection must remain a major priority.