研究目的：當家庭裡出現婚姻暴力時，受害者可能不僅止於受虐配偶，對於同住家中的子女而言，亦可能造成嚴重的身心傷害。然而，國內對於婚姻暴力目睹兒童的服務仍受限於心有餘而力不足的現況，對於目睹兒童的了解與探討亦在起步的階段。因此，本文旨在深入了解子女目睹婚姻暴力當下的情感與行為因應方式，以期助人工作者對婚暴子女的經歷與感受有更深層的同理，進而提供目睹兒童最適切的處遇服務。研究方法：本研究之母群體為南投縣家暴中心所受理之家庭暴力通報事件之案主或案家，以普查的方式，針對208個家庭，以半結構式的訪談大綱進行面訪。其中同意接受深入訪談的成人有200位（98.6%是女性）；同意接受深入訪談的子女有192位。研究結果：本研究發現，子女在目睹婚暴衝突時的情感反應包括：恐懼、憤怒、擔憂、焦慮、被忽視、矛盾、與絕望想死的意念等。本研究亦發現子女會學習模仿父母的暴力行為，攻擊手足甚至是父母。在婚姻暴力發生的當下，子女的行為反應包括：害怕躲避、不知所措、挺身介入、尋求援助及無動於衷。值得注意的是，子女的行為反應會隨著年齡而有所不同。年紀較小的子女會採取躲避的方式，不敢輕舉妄動；等到上了國高中，就比較敢出面制止、保護母親，甚至向加害者（通常是父親）反擊。Purpose: When domestic violence occurs in the family, the negative consequences may not be limited to the married couple. Domestic violence may also have a deep and negative impact on children who are exposed to it. However, the study and service of children exposed to domestic violence is still in the beginning stages in Taiwan. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the children's emotional responses and coping behaviors when witnessing domestic violence. Practitioners can better help and empathize with those children by understanding their experiences and feelings after their exposure to domestic violence. Methods: The research design of this study is cross-sectional. This studyinterviewed both parents and children. Qualitative data was collected from a clinical sample of 200 parents and 192 children who had reported incidents of family violence to the official agencies in Nantau Hsian. Qualitative data were coded, discussed, and analyzed in this paper. Results: 1. Emotional responses of children exposed to domestic violence include: fear, anxiety, worry, anger, feeling ignored, hopeless, and having thought of death. 2. Children's coping strategies include hiding, not knowing what to do, stopping violence, seeking help, and doing nothing. Children's coping strategies varied according to their age. Younger children tend to hide; while older children tend to intervene or fight against the abuser
