Family violence implications for women’s psychological wellbeing

Results from the Aboriginal Families Study show that women who experienced family violence during pregnancy, or when their children were young, were more likely to experience future psychological distress than other women. Strong cultural, community and relational support helped protect against psychological distress. Aboriginal-led healing and wellbeing programs can also help to support women who have experienced family violence and to promote recovery and wellbeing.

Why is this important?

• Little is known about the impact of family violence on the psychological wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, or what impacts it might have on their experiences of pregnancy or mothering.
• Cultural, community and relational strengths and resources are important for the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Understanding what role these strengths and resources play in supporting women who have experienced family violence can help identity pathways that strengthen support for these women, their children and families.

What did they do?

• Researchers analysed data from the Aboriginal Families Study, a longitudinal study* involving 344 Aboriginal families in South Australia. Data was first collected with women who had children aged 0–1 year and again when their children were aged 5–8 years.
• The Aboriginal Governance Group involved in the project designed culturally acceptable questions to inquire about family violence.
• The researchers used these questions to ask women about their experiences of family violence within family, kinship and community networks. They also asked about other social health issues that may affect their wellbeing, including housing problems, contact with police or courts during pregnancy, drug or alcohol use in the home, and disruption to work or study.
• The study assessed psychological wellbeing and access to cultural, community and relational strengths and resources, including social support, cultural identity, community belonging and safe relationships.
• Researchers examined how these strengths and resources were associated with women’s psychological wellbeing over time.

What did they find?

• More than one third of women reported experiences of family violence during pregnancy and when their children were aged 5–8 years.
• Women who experienced family violence were more likely to report psychological distress several years later, particularly when family violence occurred alongside other social health challenges.
• Strong cultural, community and relational connections were associated with better psychological wellbeing. Women with greater access to these strengths and resources were less likely to experience psychological distress.
• The protective benefits of these strengths and resources against psychological distress were evident both for women who had experienced family violence and for those who had not. This means that the strengths and resources were not just important for those who experience family violence but can be supportive against psychological distress overall.

What does this mean for practice?

• Strengthening cultural identity, community connections and positive relationships may support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.
• Practitioners can build on existing strengths by supporting opportunities for connection to culture, community, family, Elders and culturally safe services.
• Aboriginal-led healing and wellbeing programs may provide valuable opportunities to strengthen protective factors, promote recovery and foster long-term wellbeing.
• To strengthen the wellbeing for women and families experiencing multiple challenges, including family violence, services should coordinate supports that respond to family violence alongside housing, legal, financial and health supports.

*Note: A longitudinal study is a study that collects data from the same participants over multiple time periods.

This summary is one of the child mental health research highlights for August 2026, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).