Domestic violence in children is often perpetuated against sibling and parental authority. Such violence can start with verbal episodes and end with physical altercations. Consequences of domestic violence in children impact not only the child but also other members in the household. Unaddressed domestic violence in children can result in adulthood sibling rivalry and resentment, unresolved family issues, distant or cutoff family ties, jail/prison time, mental distress on all involved and even death.
Sibling Rivalry
This form of domestic violence involves siblings who are physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive. According to the Child Development Institute, some causes or predictors of sibling rivalry tend to be position order in the family, in which the older child may be involuntarily responsible of the younger sibling; significant sibling age differences, which result in difficulty forming identity and role in the family when ages are too close or difficulty relating and forming a bond because of age distance, and gender differences, in which siblings see parental treatment differences.
Child-on-Parent Abuse
A child abusing his parent is a form of domestic violence in which the child mentally, physically, and verbally abuses a parent. Such domestic violence episodes include swearing, name calling, intimidation, bullying, damage to material possessions, and physical harm and threats. This form of domestic violence also includes when a child frequently refuses to abide by rules and parental guidelines.
Warning Signs
Warning signs of domestic violence among minor siblings are frequent unresolved disputes, verbal abuse such as name calling and public embarrassment, and physical altercations.
Warning signs of domestic violence perpetuated by a child against a parent are frequent episodes of verbal and physical abuse like punching, hitting, slapping, and use of weapons, delinquent behavior that results in harm or intended harm such as stealing money or property and deliberate damage and misuse, and threats.
Out-of-Control Signs
Some out-of-control signs of domestic violence in children include violent behavior against the family member that temporarily or permanently disables the individual and may result in the child being institutionalized and or jail or prison time for the adult or teen. Other signs include severe mental dysfunction, such as symptoms of depression, and unexpected fits of rage. A child may even perpetuate excessive uncontrollable mental, verbal and physical altercations against other family members in public and private settings.
Getting Help
According to Focus Adolescent Services, domestic violence in children starts at an early age and overflows into adulthood. When immediate family members, particularly parents, identify signs of domestic violence of relationship dysfunction, they must take action to address the issues. Such action includes professional help, drastic family changes and functioning, and long-term family goals and planning.
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