The Impact of domestic abuse on children
Domestic abuse affects the whole family. Children will be impacted by domestic abuse, even if they don’t see it or experience it directly. In these cases the law recognises children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
Children will hear the abuse even if they are out of the room or upstairs in bed. They will see the consequences – bruises, a black eye, broken furniture or damage to the home. Children will also know if a parent is angry or upset afterwards.
The impact of domestic abuse on children takes many forms. Children affected by abuse may exhibit a variety of behaviours including:
- Sleep and/or eating disruptions
- Withdrawal / lack of responsiveness
- Crying
- Anxiety / worries / fears
- Felling guilty / blaming themselves
- Aggressive and disruptive behaviour
- Bedwetting / nightmares
- Copying the aggressive behaviour
It’s possible that children will try and get involved to protect a parent being abused and may get hurt if caught in the cross fire.
Children can also experience abuse during pregnancy. Domestic abuse increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth and can lead to a baby being born underweight or premature.
The impact of domestic abuse on children can be long lasting. Children who grow up in homes marred by domestic violence may develop mental health problems as adults, use drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms and even repeat behaviours seen in the childhood home. Someone that experiences domestic abuse as a child can become an abuser as an adult.
Are you experiencing domestic abuse?
If you and your children are living with domestic abuse we can help. Fill out our referral form or give us a call on 01582 341343 and a member of the team will be in touch. You can also contact us if a woman you care about is experiencing domestic abuse, or if you are a professional looking for information.
