The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
(from “ A Collaborative Approach to Domestic Violence-Oregon Protocol Handbook”)

How does witnessing domestic violence affect children and youth?
Some studies have indicated that adults who witnessed violence in the home as children were significantly more likely to engage in interpersonal aggression, and to remain in an abusive relationship. In particular, the males in these studies-expressed an attitude of approval regarding wife abuse and were less able to resolve conflict situations constructively. Witnessing domestic violence as a child has been identified by sociologists and social learning theorists as the most common risk factor for becoming abusive towards a wife or lover in adulthood.

In a study in a WA. State batterer’s intervention program-63% of the men had either experienced physical abuse or had witnessed physical abuse involving their parents when they were children. A Baltimore city study in 1983 found that 75% of men seen in a batterer’s program reported witnessing their fathers abuse their mothers-50% reported being abused as children.

In a review by Hotaling and Sugarman of several empirical studies of the relationship between childhood experience and adult violent behavior-94% of the studies found a significant relationship for men between witnessing parental violence and later abusing a partner. As adolescents, boys who have witnessed parental violence may also assault their mothers or siblings. They have learned that violence resolves conflict, and the violence is “normal” behavior. Because victim’s usually comply with the abuser’s demands to avoid further attack, young witnesses may also learn that using violence works.

Not only do many children who witness domestic violence learn aggressive and patriarchal attitudes, but in homes where domestic violence occurs, children are at high risk of suffering abuse themselves. Whether or not actual physical or sexual abuse occurs, the emotional effects of witnessing domestic violence are very similar to the psychological trauma associated with being a victim of child abuse. According to a 1988 study done by the National Women Abuse Prevention Project:

• Children in homes where domestic violence
occurs are physically abused or seriously neglected at a rate of 1500% higher than the national average in the general population.

• A major study of more than 900 children at
battered women’s shelters found nearly 70% of the children were victims of child
abuse or neglect. Nearly half of the children had been physically or sexually abused. However, only 20% had been identified and served by Child Protective Services prior to coming to the shelter.

• Children in homes where domestic violence occurs may indirectly receive injuries from items or weapons. Infants may be injured if being held by their mother when the batterer
strikes out.

• Older children may be hurt while they are trying to protect their mother.

• Children from violent homes are at higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse and juvenile delinquency.

• Emotional effects of domestic violence on children include taking responsibility for the abuse, suffering constant anxiety,
feeling guilt for not being able to stop the abuser or for loving the abuser, and fearing abandonment.

Recent studies confirm that many children who witness violence in their homes exhibit symptoms much like those of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-a short attention span, hypervigilance, easy distractibility, aggressive behavior. The trauma they suffer stems from standing by helplessly and witnessing the battering of their mother, the parent they most often see as their protector and nurturer, whom they depend on for love and support.

These symptoms may also be caused by lack of sleep due to nighttime episodes, fear for mother’s safety, and/or imitation of the batterer’s behavior. Because until recently so little has been known about the effects of domestic violence on child witnesses, it is now believed that many children from violent homes have been mistakenly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, a disorder with similar symptoms.

Studies of children who witness domestic violence reveal many problems related to school experiences. Some child witnesses exhibit a below-average self concept and less ability to empathize than children who have not witnessed violence. They may also experience learning problems due to an inability to concentrate, stress related physical ailments, or hearing and speech problems. They may become anxious overachievers in school in an effort to be the perfect child who will save the family. Fear of dislike of school may develop because the child fears that if the mother is left alone she may be hurt or killed.

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