How Domestic Violence Affects The Minds of Young Children

According to the NSPCC, child related domestic abuse has risen by almost 77 percent in the past 4 years. Domestic violence seems to be quite alarming in the UK, as every 1 in 5 individuals in the UK has seen some kind of domestic abuse as a child.

Children can be affected by domestic violence in two ways, either by being the victim of domestic of violence themselves, or being a witness of domestic violence at home.

Children who grow up in households with domestic violence are affected by this unpredictable environment, which is filled with anxiety, fear and tension. This often leads to psychological and emotional trauma. Instead of feeling secure and safe in their homes, these children often grow up worrying about the future, making negative predictions of what might happen in their life and how they can protect themselves.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

Whether a child is directly involved in domestic violence or is just a witness, it takes a toll on their emotional and psychological development. There can be no isolation of a domestic violence victim; it certainly always affects the people who are around.

Here are certain ways in which domestic violence has been known to affect children:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Withdrawal
• Poor self-esteem and self-image
• Poor Communication Skills
• Feeling isolated
• Nightmares
• Feeling of shame and guilt
• Feeling of powerlessness

These emotional and psychological affects often lead to:

• Verbally abusing others, particularly parents
• Consistent conflict between parent and child
• Entering marriage prematurely to leave family
• Embarrassed to be part of a family
• Poor academics, dropping out of school
• Running away from home
• Eating disorders
• Unhealthy relationships
• Violent Outbursts
• Engaging in risk-taking behaviours
• Alcohol and drug addictions
• Difficulty in expressing feelings
• Suicide

This is of course not an exhaustive list. Each child is unique and may react to domestic violence in a different way. Some children may be more resilient in the face of domestic violence and take the role of the guardian of the family to protect their parent and siblings.

The State Michigan University in East Lansing, USA, conducted a study which found that children can also develop positive coping mechanism towards domestic violence, rather than internalize or externalize the event. However, the study also noted that domestic violence is without a doubt a traumatizing experience and negatively affects the ability of children not to handle their emotions.

Factors that Determine the Affects of Domestic Violence

There are various factors that come into play that determine the extent of damage caused by domestic violence. Here is a list of some of these factors:

• The length of exposure to the domestic violence
• The age of the child during exposure to domestic violence
• Presence of additional factors that may cause stress, such as mental illnesses, poverty, academic pressure, etc.
• The relationship between the family members
• Ability of the parent to maintain parental capabilities
• Social support network

What to do in case of Domestic Violence?

It is very important for a victim of domestic violence to work out a plan to protect themselves and their children from domestic violence.

The first step should be to join a support group, which will help a great deal in coping with the situation. Even if the victim is not ready to leave the relationship or the house, the support group will help the victim in several ways by proving emotional support. It will also educate how the affects of domestic violence be minimized on the children, and how they can be taught to stand up for themselves.

The next step is to set seek legal counsel in order to determine the best possible course of action. Contacting a solicitor early on will help a victim in several ways, especially if things lead to divorce and the problem of child custody arises.

We offer legal aid to victims of domestic abuse. Feel free to visit our website for further information regarding protection laws in the U.K, or call us at 020 3417 3700. You can send an email to info@wembleysolicitors.com for questions/queries as well.