Domestic violence is when one partner in a relationship uses force, intimidation and manipulation to control the other partner, resulting in physical violence in the household. According to the nonprofit organization A Safe Place, an estimated 3.3 million children witness domestic violence each year. Domestic violence produces significant effects on children, whether they are directly victimized by the violence or are witnesses to the violence.
Identification
In abusive relationships, one partner acts aggressively by sexually, physically or emotionally abusing the other. Domestic violence is a result of physically abusive relationships that involve hitting, kicking, punching, throwing items and pushing the victim. In a household with an abusive spouse, children are often victims of abuse as well. A Safe Place estimates that children in homes where domestic violence occurs are physically abused or neglected at a rate 1,500 percent higher than the national average.
Features
Children who grow up in households with domestic violence are influenced by the unhealthy dynamics of the family, including dominance and control by one member, secretiveness about the family situation, isolation from the outside world and physical violence. Children in abusive households often feel fear, confusion, depression, guilt and powerlessness about the violence in their home. The children are lacking in healthy role models, giving them little to no resources for being able to cope with conflict in productive ways.
Effects
The effects of domestic violence on children can be far-reaching, even if the violence only occurs between parents. Children who grow up in violent households are at a high risk of displaying low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, aggression, passiveness, mood swings, lying, attention-seeking behavior, poor concentration in school, self-injury, unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, mental regression, high-risk play, substance abuse and social isolation. Children may blame themselves for the abuse, causing them to engage in self-destructive behaviors.
Considerations
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress concludes that children who experience domestic violence may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is an anxiety disorder triggered by terrifying events that involve a loss of control. The symptoms of PTSD often include detachment, nightmares and flashbacks of the event, fear of losing control, emotional numbness, avoidance of related situations or reminders of the events, hyper-vigilance, problems concentrating and trouble sleeping.
Prevention/Solution
If you or a child you know is living in a household with domestic violence or is experiencing the effects of growing up in an abusive home, contact your nearest domestic violence resource center or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline to speak with a trained counselor who can offer help and locate resources near you. It is vital that children who have been the victims or witnesses of domestic violence receive counseling, and there are many free therapy programs and support groups available to help.
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