Children and Domestic Violence

Children who witness domestic violence have their own issues and needs specific to their situation. The effect of witnessing violence depends on a variety of factors such as the child´s age, gender, and race, the duration and severity of the violence, the presence of substance abuse, the parent-child relationships, and whether the child was a direct victim of violence. Children may experience physical, behavioral, cognitive, and/or social problems due to living within a violent environment.

Physical and Emotional Effects
• Headaches, asthma, intestinal difficulties, ulcers, eczema, diarrhea or sleep difficulties including nightmares and bed-wetting
• Actual physical abuse resulting in broken bones, bruises, sprains, and lacerations
• Feelings of separation and loss, anger, emotional pain, fear, anxiety, guilt or confusion

Behavioral Effects
• Difficulties in identifying and expressing feelings in appropriate ways
• Withdrawn or passive, depression, anxiety
• Aggressive and destructive behaviors
• Difficulty trusting, difficulty with intimate relationships
• Isolated from family members and community
• Excessive crying, dependency, impulsivity tantrums, self-mutilation
• Mis-diagnosis of ADHD

Cognitive and Social Effects
• Violence becomes a means to solving problems
• Insensitivity to others
• Affects school success: truancy, poor performance, fatigue, school phobias