Effects of
Domestic Violence on Children
Binnie
LeHew, Violence Prevention Coordinator
Iowa
Department of Public Health
Spring
2004
Children who live
in homes where domestic violence occurs are affected by that violence, whether
or not they directly experience it. An estimated 3.3 to 10 million American
children annually see one parent assault another.
| In homes where
domestic violence occurs, children are at significantly higher risk of physical
and sexual abuse. In 2003, the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse of
Women (MINCAVA), reported that child physical or sexual abuse is found in 30% to
60% of the families experiencing domestic abuse. |
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller reports that from 1990 to 1999, domestic abuse
caused 121 Iowa deaths, and 53 children were present at those killings. More
than a third of Iowa child abuse cases involved domestic violence. |
Domestic violence
constitutes psychological maltreatment. It can result in the child being:
-
Terrorized
by behavior that threatens
or hurts them or a loved one
- Spurned by verbal or nonverbal acts
that degrade or reject them
- Denied a nurturing response
to their
attempts and needs to interact
- Isolated by unreasonable limits to
interactions with others
- Neglected through failure to receive
needed mental health, health, or educational services
- Corrupted by actions that model,
permit, or encourage inappropriate behavior
The effects of
domestic violence on children may be short-term or long-term. These children are
living in an environment of psychological maltreatment, a "repeated pattern of
behavior that conveys the child is …seriously threatened with physical or
psychological violence…" A child who watches a parent being physically hurt
often experiences intense feelings of fear and helplessness. While simply
watching violence is bad enough, watching the victimization of someone you
depend on for protection and safety can be devastating.
Jeff Edelson of
MINCAVA found that children who have witnessed domestic violence are more likely
to have trouble with:
-
Aggressive and antisocial behaviors
-
Depression and anxiety
-
Delayed cognitive development
-
Mental health and social adjustment concerns later in life
Factors that
affect a child's response to violence
The effect of
domestic violence on a child depends on:
-
The child's age, gender, and developmental stage
-
Patterns of abuse in the child's life
-
The child's system of social supports
Age, gender, and
developmental stage. Young children may be especially
vulnerable to the harmful effects of domestic violence. They don't have the
capacity to understand what is happening. They are more likely to be exposed to
violence because they are dependent on their caretakers. Older children can
often seek safety, have more fully developed internal resources, and better
problem-solving skills.
|
While simply watching violence is bad enough, watching the
victimization of someone you depend on for protection and safety can be
devastating. |
Children learn
from their parents as role models. Domestic violence affects attachment
to both parents. When there is domestic violence, a child may identify
with the abusive parent (who appears to have power and control) or with
the abused parent (who appears to be helpless). Limited exposure to
healthy role models can affect personal relationships later in life.
Patterns of
abuse. How seriously domestic violence affects a child
depends on:
- The child's proximity to the violence
- Whether the abuse injures someone the child relies on or is
close to
- How well the child knows the abuser
- Severity of abuse (causing serious physical injury or death)
- Frequency of abuse
 |
Systems of
social support. Relationships with other adults who
provide a safe attachment and meet the child's emotional or physical needs may
moderate the impact of the domestic violence. Such support can come from other
family members, neighbors, school personnel, or others. It is important to note
that some battered women can and do meet the psychological and emotional needs
of their children. A child's witnessing of abuse should be viewed as a
significant risk factor for child physical abuse, but not as conclusive evidence
of this. |
How can we help?
Iowa law requires
health care providers who see evidence of child physical or sexual abuse to
immediately report this to the Department of Human Services. Providers should
always consider the impact of any interventions on the safety of the child and
other family members. In cases where the child saw abuse but was not abused, we
have two key responsibilities:
- First, to communicate with the child's parents about the ways
that domestic abuse hurts the child.
- Second, to guide the family to help. Referral resources that
you may find useful are listed on page 5.
Resources
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