Former United States Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona calls spousal abuse and child abuse "a violation, a betrayal of the trust and love that should occur within our families and intimate relationships." The effects of abuse are carried with children into adulthood, causing a cycle of violence that moves between generations. Humans, says Carmona, are better than this. "Family violence is beneath us as individuals; it is beneath us as a nation," he says.
Connection
"There is an inter-connectedness among the various forms of family violence," says Carmona. In families where spousal abuse occurs, child abuse becomes more likely as well, and vice-versa. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, in approximately 30 to 60 percent of families where either child maltreatment or spousal abuse exists, it's likely that both forms exist. Perpetrators of spousal violence who were abused themselves as children also become more likely to abuse their own children, says the Department of Health and Human Services.
Abuse Statistics
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 out of every 3 women in the world has, at some point, been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence further reports that in America, 1 out of 4 women will eventually experience some form of domestic violence.
According to Childhelp, an estimated 5.8 million children were involved in approximately 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations in 2007.
Reasons and Risk Factors
A need for power and control commonly leads people to abuse others, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those who were abused or witnessed abuse as children also face a higher risk of experiencing or perpetrating abuse as adults. Surgeon General Carmona also identifies several risk factors that may make some more prone to perpetrating family violence. Mental illness, dependency and attachment problems, depression and personality disorders, such as schizoidal and borderline personality disorder, increase the likelihood of violence, says Carmona. Alcohol and drug use are also risk factors.
Effects on Children
The Department of Health and Human Services separates the effects of abuse on children into three distinct categories. The first category includes behavioral, social and emotional problems, such as fear, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, oppositional behavior and higher levels of aggression. Second, children suffer cognitive and attitudinal problems, such as general lower cognitive functioning, limited problem-solving skills, poor school performance, lack of conflict resolution skills and acceptance of violent behaviors. Finally, children experience long-term problems such as adult depression and trauma, and an increased use of and tolerance for violence in adult relationships.
Getting Help
Numerous local and national organizations exist to help those suffering from abuse as well as those perpetrating the abuse. To stop the cycle of violence and get help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE, or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-4-A-CHILD.
References
- Office of the Surgeon General: "Family Violence as a Public Health Issue"; Richard H. Carmona; 2003
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The Overlap Between Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence Facts
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Abuse in America
- Childhelp: National Child Abuse Statistics
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