Spousal Abuse & Its Effects On Children

An estimated once very 15 seconds, a woman is harmed by her husband or partner. But that harm isn't limited to the woman. Children exposed to family violence are injured, as well, even if they are never hit. And those wounds can be lasting.

Spousal Abuse

Spousal abuse is the leading cause of death and injury to women in America, more common than muggings, car accidents and cancer deaths, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Surgeon General's Office. Emotional abuse can take the form of threats, name-calling and intimidation.

Injuries

A child who witnesses the abuse of a parent is also frequently abused himself. More than half of the men who abuse their wives also physically harm their children. Children who live in an abusive home also experience physical and emotional neglect.

Emotions

Witnessing the abuse of a parent has emotional consequences. Children may become fearful that something will happen to them or their parents. They may feel powerless and angry that they are unable to stop the violence. Domestic violence is isolating, and children may hide the abuse at home, thwarting intervention measures teachers, pastors or other close adults could take.

Acting out

Children exhibit the effects of domestic violence in a number of ways. Very young children may become anxious and even phobic, fearful of intruders at night or reluctant to try anything that looks new or strange. A child may regress by wetting the bed or sucking his thumb. At the other extreme, a child may develop violent tendencies, hurting himself or others. Often therapy is needed even after a parent removes herself and her child from a violent situation.

Long-Term Consequences

Children who experience the aggression and neglect of family violence often grow up thinking poorly of themselves and knowing no other way to interact in intimate relationships. A boy who is exposed to domestic violence has a greater chance of becoming an abuser himself. A girl may grow up only to become an abused wife and mother. Parents who abuse and are abused cannot teach their children how to become healthy, loving spouses and parents. This is a legacy of domestic violence.