Impact on Children of Domestic Abuse

Impact

• Fear powerlessness, anger, depression, sadness, impaired social relationships
• There is negative impact on family relationships, with extended family, and their relationship with their mother and father
• Effects educational achievement, it is often impaired
• Behaviour problems some children display anger while others withdraw. (McGee 2005)

 Harm to Children from Domestic Abuse

• Overlap - child is also abused and neglected
• Child homicides
• Child sexual abuse
• Witnessing domestic abuse
• Child drawn into domestic abuse (relaying threats, battery through the law, contact issues)
• Child intervenes to protect
• Child feels responsible
• Living with the impact of domestic abuse - peace at home, mother's fears, child's emotional and developmental well being
• Mother's health undermined
• Child as a carer

Examples of the effects on children

Physical effects

• Bruising
• Broken bones
• Burns or stab wounds
• Death
• Neurological complications
• Tiredness and sleep disturbance
• General poor health
• Stress-related illness (asthma, bronchitis or skin conditions)
• Enuresis or encopresis
• Running away leading to potential homelessness
• Eating difficulties
• Damage following self harm
• Teenage pregnancy
• Gynaecological problems
• Self-harm
• Difficulty in making and sustaining friendships
• Damage to the unborn child in pregnancy

Psychological/behavioural effects

• Fear, panic, guilt and anxiety
• Depression / poor mental health
• Introversion or withdrawal
• Thoughts of suicide or running away
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Anger, aggressive behaviour and delinquency
• Substance misuse
• Loss of self confidence
• Assumes a parental role
• Hyperactivity
• Tension
• Low self-esteem
• Sexual problems or sexual precocity
• Suicide
• Eating disorders
• Truancy and other difficulties at school