THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & ABUSE ON CHILDREN

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The Effects of Domestic Violence & Abuse on Children



Children living in homes where there is domestic violence and abuse grow up in an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and insecurity. Many children assume they are responsible for the situation because they feel they’ve been “bad,” or have not been “good enough.” They may develop a variety of coping mechanisms to help them survive in the abusive home, but such mechanisms all too often have profound negative effects on the child’s development. A child living with, and witnessing, domestic violence and abuse may experience the following feelings: Fear, grief, despair, shame Anger, rage, distrust, hostility Worthlessness and inadequacy Guilt self-blame Extreme loneliness Abandonment Powerlessness Helplessness Exaggerated fear of new situations or people
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A child living with domestic violence and abuse may:
Have physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, sleeping difficulties and eating problems Have frequent illnesses Have difficulty relating to peers Have difficulty making simple decisions Become withdrawn, quiet, secretive Have poor school performance Have poor school attendance and /or truancy Behave aggressively Use inappropriate language Act out Use physical violence or abusive language to control situations Engage in substance abuse

Children who witness domestic abuse have significantly higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems than other children. They are more likely to enter into abusive relationships - either as abuser or victim - than are children from non-abusive environments. When they become parents themselves, they may pass along the violence and abuse to the next generation. Children can benefit greatly from appropriate intervention services.
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