The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Ages 7-11

By: Linda Kissack ,

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UNICEF (2006) defines domestic violence or intimate partner violence as “a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviours including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion used by adults or adolescents against their current or former intimate partner” (p. 1).

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10 to 20 percent of children are at risk for exposure to domestic violence.

In 38% of incidents of intimate partner violence, children under age 12 were residents in the household.

Child abuse occurs in 30 to 60 percent of family violence cases that involve families with children.

Statistics

(The Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2009).

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193,505 family violence incidents

111 women killed by an intimate partner

44% of the women killed had children

In 19 of the cases, one or more children

witnessed the death of their mother

6 children were murdered as well

108 children lost one or both parents

In 2009, Texas reported…

(Texas Council on Family Violence, 2010).

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Directly witnessing the abuse

Suffering harm incidental to the abuse

Being forced to watch or participate in the abuse of the victim

Being used as a spy Being used by the abuser to

manipulate the victim

Children are exposed to domestic violence by:

(Stop Violence Against Women, 2010).

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1. Being neglected

2. Losing their home and living in a

shelter

3. Being directly abused

4. Losing one or both of their parents

5. Death (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2009).

Children who live with domestic violence face the following

increased risks:

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Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to

suffer from biological, social, emotional, and/or

cognitive development

problems than those who are not.

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Psychosomatic problems

Eating and sleeping patterns are

disrupted

Nightmares

Gastrointestinal problems

Bed-wetting

Memory problems

The Effects of Domestic Violence on

Biological Development

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Nervousness

Depression

Anxiety

Stress

Panic

Biological Development

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Shame

Easily Irritated

Substance abuse

Inability to regulate

emotions

Underdeveloped cortex

Biological Development

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Poor concentration and focus

Low academic achievement

Poor adaptation to learning environment

Poor language skills

Lack conflict resolution skills

The Effects of Domestic Violence on

Cognitive Development

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Overreact to non-threatening triggers

Difficulty with tasks requiring higher-order thinking skills

Create rationalizations to justify abuse

Dissociate from situation Focused on survival

Cognitive Development

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Cognitive Development

Worry excessively

Confused

Thoughts of inadequacy

Lie to cover up the abuse

Learn distorted gender roles

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Isolated from others

Uncomfortable in social

situations

Unable to trust others

Lack peer relationships

Protect siblings

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Social Development

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Disobedient

Low self-esteem

Hostile towards others

Oppositional behavior

Take on parent responsibilities

Social Development

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Eager to please others

Bully others

Become victims of

bullying

Industrious vs. inferior

Compare themselves to

others

Social Development

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Negative self-concept

Unworthy

Constantly afraid

Feel insecure

Feel unloved

The Effects of Domestic Violence on

Emotional Development

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Jealous of others

Become more aware of their own

reactions to violence

Feel anxious

Concerned for their mother

Frustrated

Emotional Development

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Helpless

Guilty

Responsible

Vengeful

Resigned

Emotional Development

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Violence and threats get you what you want

A person has two choices- to be the aggressor or be the victim

When people hurt others, they do not get in trouble

People who love you can also hurt you Unhealthy, unequal relationships are

normal or to be expected

Unhealthy lessons children may learn from violence against their mothers

(Cunningham, A., & Baker, L., 2007).

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“Boys who witness their mother’s abuse are more

likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys

raised in non-violent homes”

(Domestic Violence Roundtable, 2008, “Long Term Effects,” para. 1).

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“Girls who witness their mother’s abuse may grow to

believe that threats and violence are the norm in

relationships”

(Domestic Violence Roundtable, 2008, “Long Term Effects,” para. 1).

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Not all children exposed to domestic violence exhibit negative effects. Some children demonstrate enormous resiliency and use their situation as motivation to excel in school and in life.

“Schoolchildren who seem unscathed by their troubled, stressful homes have been called resilient or even invincible” (Berger, 2010, p.275).

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Provide a safe and secure environment Listen to them, believe them, shelter them Provide a routine Provide support services to meet their

individual needs Teach them that domestic violence is wrong Teach them non-violent methods of resolving

conflicts

How can we protect children from the effects of domestic

violence?

(UNICEF, 2006).

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Children Suffering in Silence

The link is to a KXLY 4 News story about a family that escaped from a violent home. It

includes an interview with the children describing how they were affected by their

exposure to domestic violence.

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Baker, L., & Cunningham, A. (2007). Little eyes, little ears: How violence against a mother shapes children as they grow.

Ottawa, Ontario: Centre for Children & Families in the Justice System.

Berger, K.S. (2010). In Invitation to the Lifespan. New York: Worth Publishers.

KXLY4 News (Producer). (2007, November 07). Children suffering in silence the pain of domestic violence [Video webcast].

In KXLY4 Focus. Retrieved from http://wwww.youtube.com/user/KXLY#p/search/0/eh5fzzn_0NU

Stop Violence Against Women. (2006). Effects of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from http://www.stopvaw.org/

effects_of_domestic_violence_on_children.html

Texas Council on Family Violence. (2010). Honoring Texas victims: Family fatalities in 2009. Retrieved from

http://www.tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/killListReport-v2.pdf

The Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Domestic violence and the child welfare system. Retrieved from

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolcene.cfm

UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

References