Effects on Children
Children may exhibit a variety of reactions to exposure to domestic violence in their household. Younger children may not understand the meaning of the abuse they observe and may believe they caused it.
Younger children may not have the ability to adequately express their feelings. Expression of these feelings may translate into behavioral problems.
The following are some behavioral symptoms witnessing violence can cause in young children:
- Eating and/or sleeping disorders
- Over-compliance and clinginess
- Aggressive acting out
- Detachment and fantasy life
- School problems and delinquency
- Decreased ability to concentrate or focus
- Decreased ability to problem solve
- Learned victim and aggressor roles
- Emotional/social problems
- Increase in violent responses
- Increased risk of abuse, injuries or death
While adolescents face similar consequences having lived with violence in the home, they often have a greater risk for the following:
- Depression and hopelessness
- Aggressive behavior
- Difficulty controlling anger
- Serve anxiety
- Learned victim and aggressor roles
- Substance abuse
- Thoughts of suicide
- Delinquency and school problems
- Early marriage and early pregnancy