Violence, parenting, and maternal and child mental health

Abstract

Positive parenting involves the ability of caregivers to respond sensitively, consistently, and appropriately to the child's needs, promoting secure emotional bonds, offering learning opportunities, and ensuring protection against different forms of violence and neglect (Altafim et al., 2023). In contexts where these parenting skills are challenged by adversity, such as violence, the risks to the well-being of caregivers and children tend to intensify.

Violence against children and adolescents is a persistent and global challenge, with repercussions on mental health and human development, as well as being associated with high social and economic costs throughout the life cycle (United Nations, 2025). Latin America is among the regions most affected by violence in the world, with high rates of crime, urban violence, and social instability (Institute for Economics & Peace, 2023).

Brazil, as one of the most populous countries in the region, offers a relevant overview for understanding the relationships between violence, parenting, and mental health. Evidence from surveys in the country and longitudinal studies indicates that a significant portion of violence against children occurs in the family context (Linhares et al., 2023; IBGE, 2022). The Early Childhood for Healthy Adults (PIPAS) survey, conducted in Brazilian state capitals, revealed that caregivers use negative parenting practices with children, such as shouting (33%) and spanking (35%) (Ministry of Health & Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation, 2023). Convergent results are observed in the National School Health Survey, in which more than a quarter of students (27.5%) in the 9th grade reported physical abuse by fathers, mothers, or guardians in the 30 days prior to data collection. (IBGE, 2022).

Scientific literature shows that exposure to violence has an impact on mental health and child development. One study found a higher prevalence of clinical mental health symptoms among children and adolescents with a history of violence (Hildebrand et al., 2019). Community violence, such as homicides occurring in the vicinity of the home, was associated with poorer self-regulation, more behavioural problems, and lower child development performance in 3-year-olds (McCoy et al., 2024). In adolescents, experiences of bullying, school violence, and community violence were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and self-harming behaviours (Quinlan-Davidson et al., 2021). On the other hand, social support, especially parental support, emerges as a protective factor capable of mitigating the effects of violence on young people's mental health (Quinlan-Davidson et al., 2021). These findings reinforce the importance of public policies that consider territory and safety as central components of promoting child development.