The Impact of Domestic Violence on Adolescent Development: Peer Relationships, Emotional Well-being, and Future Romantic Interactions

Authors Note

I chose to write this piece as part of a final paper in my SOC 122 class to be able to showcase that apart from the direct victim of gender based violence, there are often other individuals such as children who also become indirect casualties of these situations. My hopes in writing and sharing this is to raise awareness of domestic violence and showcase the impact it has on children, their development and success of future relationships.

Domestic violence affects millions of families across the United States each year, leaving lasting emotional and psychological scars on its victims. Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior (physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological or technical) that is used by someone in order to gain and maintain power over an intimate partner (US Department of Justice, 2022). This includes a variety of behaviors that aim to intimidate, humiliate, terrorize, threaten, or harm someone. Extensive research has shown the lasting negative impacts that domestic violence has on its direct victims through physical and/or sexual abuse. It is important to address others who are affected in these situations, such as children. Adolescents raised in the homes of domestically violent couples can be affected through differences in their emotional and social development. Adolescence is a crucial period for socialization and emotional regulation. During this time, young people establish their identities and learn to navigate peer and romantic relationships.  Domestic violence during adolescents’ formative years can create behavioral problems that influence social interactions, emotional regulation, and expectations in their future relationships. This paper examines the impact of domestic violence exposure on adolescent development, specifically how it shapes peer relationships, emotional wellbeing, and future romantic interactions. By analyzing the intersections of domestic violence, adolescent mental health, attachment style, and peer dynamics, I argue that early exposure increases the risk of unhealthy social patterns and dating violence. Particularly, exposure to domestic violence and negative parenting styles leads to substantial behavioral and psychological adjustment issues in teenagers which are intimately linked to violence within their future relationships (Munusamy et al, 2022). Ultimately, I will discuss how domestic violence contributes to potential life long consequences and explore potential interventions to break the cycles of violence. 

The adolescent period of development, typically from ages 10-17, is a critical period for emotional and social development, during which young people form their own identities and navigate complex peer relationships. Building confidence and exploring one's identity can be heavily impacted by adverse childhood experiences, such as exposure to domestic violence. Adverse childhood experiences are defined as potentially traumatizing events or environments that occur in childhood (CDC, 2025). Specifically during adolescence, domestic violence can disrupt the developmental trajectory by instilling maladaptive coping mechanisms and creating unnecessary emotional stress (Street et al., 2005). Intimate partner violence within the home influences the likelihood of internalizing behaviors such as anxiety and depression (Camacho et al., 2012). Maladaptive coping mechanisms such as anxiety and depression in addition to adverse childhood experiences not only shape adolescents' behaviors, but also alter their perceptions of what peers/romantic relationships look like. This unfortunately sets adolescents up for future experiences of abuse apart from their initial homelife experience. 

Exposure to domestic violence affects an adolescent’s ability to form healthy peer relationships. Children raised in violent households may develop antisocial behaviors which may increase their likelihood for continuing cycles of violence (Ireland & Smith, 2009). These behaviors can lead to isolation, peer rejection, or affiliation with delinquent peer groups, further exacerbating emotional stress (Ellis & Dumas, 2018). Similarly, peer relationships are particularly influential in shaping behavior, suggesting that peer norms can either reinforce or mitigate dating violence (Ellis & Dumas, 2018). Adolescents associating with peers who normalize dating violence are more likely to adopt similar behaviors, reinforcing maladaptive relational patterns that can persist into adulthood. Exposure to peer environments where aggression is encouraged fosters the belief that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. For example, adolescents in households where interpartner violence is occurring become desensitized to violence and its impact on others. Adolescents may mimic the antisocial behaviors they see at home towards their peers which, in turn, will create a rejected or strained peer dynamic. Rejected peer dynamics are created when an individual is being consistently ignored, excluded, or abused by their peers (Ladd et al., 2014). Children and adolescents that fall into this dynamic are more likely to develop poor methods of communication and may resort to violence as a means of regaining control and authority of their own lives (Foshee et al., 2013). Additionally, adolescents who lack positive parental role models may be more likely to engage in antisocial behaviors, as they have no positive buffer from trusted adults to reduce the effect of adverse experiences (Carter et al., 2022). The long-term consequences of domestic violence exposure extend beyond immediate emotional distress. Adolescents who grow up in violent households often struggle with trust, communication, and conflict resolution in their relationships. Domestic violence affects the ability to form secure peer relationships due to cycles of abuse that promote violence and antisocial behaviors which in turn leads to guarded and isolated adolescents. 

Familial and peer influences contribute to cycles of violence in both adolescent and future adult relationships (Olsen et al., 2010). Social learning, attachment theory, and peer contagion can be used to explain how early exposure to domestic violence perpetuates unhealthy relational patterns. Social learning theory suggests that individuals learn behaviors by observing and imitating others (McLeod, 2024). Adolescents living in violent households internalize aggressive behaviors and see them as normal in their own relationships. This cyclical violence increases the risk of dating violence and perpetuates abuse across generations. Additionally, familial factors such as inconsistent parenting, lack of emotional warmth, and exposure to high-conflict environments contribute to aggression being present in romantic relationships (Munusamy et al., 2022). Particularly, young women end up becoming revictimized later in life due to an unstable home environment that modeled harmful relationships dynamics during their adolescence (Haselschwerdt et al., 2021). Since these young girls grew up watching their parental figures enduring abuse, it reinforces social learning theory by explaining why these girls will continue the cycle of violence in their own romantic relationships.

Attachment theory determines the relationship dynamics a person will gravitate towards. It states that early relationships with caregivers influence future relational expectations and behaviors. Secure attachment styles in adolescents are characterized by having a sense of self-worth, confidence, and accepting support from others. Insecure attachment styles are characterized by having low self-esteem, trouble navigating independence, and increased risk for engaging in risky behaviors. Adolescents exposed to domestic violence may develop insecure attachment styles, leading to difficulties in forming stable and trusting relationships (Ellis & Dumas, 2018). Specifically, they may develop a disorganized attachment style which is a type of insecure attachment style characterized by an individual craving closeness but also fearing it, leading to contradictory and confusing push-pull behaviors. They may avoid intimacy due to the fear of rejection, or become overly dependent on their partners, increasing their risk of victimization in abusive relationships. This insecure attachment can also lead to difficulty in emotional regulation, conflict mediation, and an increased likelihood of engaging in toxic or codependent relationships. Additionally, adolescents with insecure attachments often struggle with emotional resilience, which leads them to be more prone to depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behaviors in relationships.

The impact of domestic violence on adolescent development is profound; it impacts peer relationship formation, one’s emotional wellbeing, and future romantic encounters. Exposure to domestic violence disrupts healthy socialization, increases the likelihood for internalizing negative behaviors, and perpetuates cycles of dating violence. By understanding these effects through the lens of social learning theory, attachment theory, and peer contagion theory, researchers can develop effective interventions to break the cycles of violence. From a social learning perspective, preventive measures such as school-based violence prevention programs can help adolescents unlearn aggressive behaviors. By investing in these programs, positive role models can help teach conflict resolution skills that can then be used to mitigate the indirect effects of domestic violence. Attachment-focused interventions, such as trauma-informed therapy or support groups, can also be used to help adolescents develop more secure attachment styles, improving their overall emotional regulation and relational stability. Peer-based interventions such as bystander intervention programs and mentorship initiatives, can be used to counteract negative peer influences by fostering supportive social networks that encourage healthy relationship norms. Early intervention strategies that combat the negative outcomes of domestic violence can equip struggling adolescents with the skills necessary to end the cycle of violence, allowing them to become emotionally and socially secure adults. 

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About the Author

Cheyenne Lopez Gil majored in Human Development. She is interested in obtaining a PhD in psychology researching the longitudinal effects violence and trauma have on behavior, emotional regulation, and brain function. She volunteered in Clinica Tepati as a part of their Mental Health Committee where she witnessed the effects violence and traumatic experiences, such as deportation, marital violence, and witnesses of violence, contributes to poor mental health in these populations. Additionally she worked as a research assistant in a Dr. Bliss-Moreau's behavior/neuro lab at the California National Primate Research Center where she learned translational techniques in behavioral observation, behavioral testing, histology and data interpretation which she hopes to use in her future graduate studies. Currently she works as a recovery counselor in an inpatient psychiatric ward focused on patients with schizophrenia and history of committing sex crimes and violent behavior. Post PhD she hopes to be able to contribute to academia and science by researching the intersectionalities of culture, violence, emotion, cognition, and behavior,.