The Impact of Exposure to Domestic Violence on Emotion Regulation in Adolescence: A literature review

Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries, including my home country of Serbia. The global prevalence of domestic violence, combined with the fact that it is a taboo topic in many societies, underscores its social and psychological importance. In addition to its negative consequences for direct victims, domestic violence also significantly affects those who witness it within the household, most often children and adolescents. Individuals exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk of developing psychological problems, including PTSD, depression, as well as suicidal ideation. These traumatic experiences may lead to disruptions in emotion regulation, thereby impairing individuals’ ability to cope with stressors, maintain interpersonal relationships, and make rational decisions. The goal of the present dissertation is to explore emotion regulation difficulties as a central mechanism through which exposure to domestic violence contributes to adverse psychological outcomes later in life. To address this aim, a systematic review of recent studies was conducted using databases such as PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar, with a focus on adolescents exposed to domestic violence. The findings consistently indicate that emotion dysregulation plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between domestic violence exposure and psychopathology. These results highlight the need for targeting emotion regulation processes in prevention and intervention efforts.