In homes where domestic violence occurs, children are also at high risk of suffering physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Whether or not they are physically abused, children who witness domestic violence suffer significant emotional and psychological trauma said to be similar to that experienced by victims of child abuse.
A child may experience domestic violence at a number of levels.
As direct victims of physical abuse or serious neglect.
Research suggests that men who abuse their partners are likely to assault their children. The abuse of women who are mothers usually predates the infliction of child abuse (Stark & Flitcraft, 1988). At least half of all abusive partners also batter their children (Pagelow, 1989). The more severe the abuse of the mother, the worse the child abuse (Bowker, Arbitell, and McFerron, 1988).
Daughters are more likely than sons to become victims. (Dobash and Dobash, 1979). Woman abuse is also the context for sexual abuse of female children. Where the mother is assaulted by the father, daughters are exposed to a risk of sexual abuse 6.51 times greater than girls in nonabusive families (Bowker, Arbitell, and McFerron, 1988). Where a male is the perpetrator of child abuse, one study demonstrated that there is a 70 percent chance that any injury to the child will be severe and 80 percent of child fatalities within the family are attributable to fathers or father surrogates. (Bergman, Larsen, and Mueller, 1986).
As "indirect" victims of physical injury.
Older children are frequently assaulted when they intervene to defend or protect their mothers (Hilberman and Munson, 1977-78). A children may be hurt when struck by a weapon or thrown object. Infants can be hurt if being held by their mothers when the abuser strikes out.
As victims of emotional and psychological trauma.
90% of children present in violent homes had witnessed the violence perpetrated against their mother. (Report of the Queensland Domestic Violence Task Force, 1988)
In a research undertaken by the Australian Institute of Criminology, 15% of young people surveyed identified they had experienced domestic violence and 32% of young people knew someone who had experienced domestic violence. ( National Research on Young People's Attitudes and experiences of Domestic Violence : 2000)
Children witnessing the violence inflicted on their mothers evidence behavioural, somatic, or emotional problems similar to those experienced by physically abused children (Jaffe, Wolfe, and Wilson, 1990).
Separation violence and or / Child abduction.
Research confirms that abusive men often escalate violence to re-capture their partners and children who have sought safety in separation. The risk to children in the context of domestic violence separation is substantial. Yet, the risk is virtually invisible.
While the impact of domestic violence on women has "come out of the closet" over the course of the last fifteen years, the impact and risk of domestic violence for children remains a closely held secret.
The domestic violence service recognises that a child living in an environment where domestic violence occurs is an abused child. Not all children are affected by domestic violence in the same way. It can impact on every aspect of a child's life and behaviour.
Common overall reactions of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence.
Isolation
Feeling Responsible for the Abuse
Helplessness
Guilt for not stopping the abuse
Medical problems
Grief
Ambivalence
Fear of abandonment
Embarrassment
Pessimism about the future
Eating and sleeping disorders
Depression
Detachment
Fantasies about normal home life
Reactions of Adolescents to Domestic Violence.
Poor grades, school drop-out
Low self esteem
Refuses to bring friends home - stays away - runs away
Isolated
Violent outbursts
Irresponsible decision making
Substance abuse and other delinquent behaviours
Unable to communicate feelings
Nightmares
Depression
Dating Violence
Physical symptoms
Substance abuse
It is extremely important for children who live in violent homes to have a simple safety plan
Warn children to stay out of the adults' conflicts.
Make a list of people the children can trust and talk to when they are feeling unsafe (neighbors, teachers, relatives, friends).
Decide ahead of time on a safe place the children can go when they feel unsafe.
Teach children how to use police and other emergency phone numbers
Often when children are removed from a situation where violence is occurring along with their mothers, and they are supported with specialist help, the behavioural and emotional effects of domestic violence will improve.
Apart from the emotional, physical, social and behavioural damage abuse creates for children, statistics show that domestic violence can also become a learned behaviour . This means that children may grow up to think it is OK to use violence to get what they want, and that as adults, it is OK for there to be violence in their relationships.
It is estimated that of the children who witness domestic violence in the home:
50% of the girls will become victims 60% of the boys will become abusers 80% of those in prison grew up in violent homes Sons who witness abuse are ten times as likely to abuse their partners.
This generational cycle of violence is made worse by living within a violent situation. It is a threat to children's security and survival.