A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Manchester, in collaboration with SHERA Research Group and The Survivor Family Network, has revealed alarming health impacts on women involved in family court proceedings, particularly those who have accused their partners of domestic abuse. The study, which is set to be published in the journal of family trauma, child custody, and child development, involved 45 women and their 77 children.
The participants reported experiencing severe psychological conditions such as suicidal ideation, memory loss, depression, and flashbacks, which they attributed to their experiences in court. Additionally, they noted physical symptoms like Crohn’s Disease, cancer, psoriasis, heart palpitations, and miscarriage, which were either worsened by or directly linked to the court proceedings. Tragically, one respondent recounted a peer’s suicide during the court process, and others mentioned heart attacks within their families coinciding with the legal battles.
A significant finding of the study was that in 43 out of 45 cases, the fathers, including those with child sexual abuse convictions, were granted some form of contact with the children. Moreover, 39 of the women were counter-accused of ‘parental alienation’ (PA), a controversial legal argument. PA, which is widely discredited by various governments and organizations, including the World Health Organization, is often used to deny abuse and grant or maintain the abusive parent’s access to the children.
The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Elizabeth Dalgarno, a lecturer in public health at The University of Manchester and the Founder and Chair of SHERA Research Group, emphasised the need for further research under the term ‘Court and Perpetrator Induced Trauma’ (CPIT). She highlighted the psychological and physical toll of parental alienation allegations on women, especially those already traumatised by domestic abuse.
Dr. Dalgarno also pointed out the systemic issues within the family courts, including a lack of training for judges and court professionals on coercive control and domestic abuse, and a culture of misogyny and victim-blaming. She noted that the courts often do not believe children who report abuse and that CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) may be too closely aligned with father’s rights groups.
The study underscores the structural disadvantages and societal misogyny faced by women in family courts, calling for urgent research to determine if these health impacts constitute a public health emergency. The findings align with the 2020 Ministry of Justice Harm Report, which acknowledged the use of PA by abusive fathers to deny abuse, despite Home Office figures showing that only 2-5% of domestic abuse claims are false.
This research highlights the urgent need for a reevaluation of family court proceedings and their impact on women’s health, advocating for a more balanced and informed approach to handling domestic abuse cases in the legal system.
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What To Do Now
If you’re considering divorce or separation, family mediation offers a constructive, cost-effective way to resolve disputes without the stress and expense of going to court. By working with a professionally trained mediator, you can reach practical agreements that reflect the needs and interests of everyone involved — especially children.
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