Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

The impact of violence is a complex and has varied yet significant influence on children’s development in every domain. The effects of violence on children’s development is dependent on their age, neighborhood, amount of consistency in their lives, support available to caregivers, previous abuse, how close children are to violent events, and familiarity with victims of violence and/or perpetrators of violence.[33] Domestic violence can be especially detrimental to the parent/caregiver and child relationship and can lead to multiple consequences depending on what happens when children see their primary caregiver abused, how this impacts their attachment, and if the parent/caregiver abuses or neglects the child as well. Below is a brief list of some outcomes children who live in violent environments and encountered domestic violence experience.

• Exposure to violence affects the development of young children’s thinking about themselves and the world around them, including whether relationships are trustworthy and dependable.[34]

• Very young children’s capacities for perceiving and remembering the experience affect the appearance (or non-appearance) of symptoms related to the child’s exposure to violence, the pattern of symptoms, and at what age and under what circumstances symptoms are likely to occur.[35]

• Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in children under the age of three years may include disrupted patterns of eating, sleeping difficulties, difficulties attending and relaxing, anxious reactions, fearfulness, and re-experiencing the trauma (shown by behaviors if children have not yet acquired the ability to use language).[36]

• Exposure to parental fighting leads to more aggressive behaviors in boys and more withdrawal in girls. Further, children who have been exposed to more anger (and a history of abuse) show increased negative and aggressive reactions.[37]

• Children who live with domestic violence learn, early and powerfully, that violence is a part of intimate relationships. They learn that violence is an appropriate way to discharge tensions and resolve conflicts. They learn that violence is an acceptable way to control other people. They learn that violence is connected to the expression of love.[38]

• When violence occurs in the home, children have no refuge.[39]

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