Divorce Guide

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

According to UK Statistics on domestic violence, severe, repeated, and systematic violence occurs in at least 5 of every hundred marriages in Britain. It is a matter of great concern in families with children. Effects of domestic violence on children are profound.

Domestic violence is a common feature in modern households. With increasing stress, incompatibility, and unmanageable ego, physically abusing each other is growing increasingly. To our surprise weaker sex is not any more a mere victim. In some cases it is found that women also hit men either for self-defense, or for revenge.

When we talk of domestic violence it is not only the men and women who are victims, but children are also subjected to physical abuse by either of the parent. Parents hit children, toddlers, infants, out of their frustration and in anger. They do not realize the far reaching effects of domestic violence on children and go on hitting them again and again.

Even if the parents are not hitting the child he is directly or indirectly affected by this behavior. Children need a safe and nurturing environment to grow. If they stay in an atmosphere marked by violence and fear, their normal coursr of growth gets affected. Such children start exhibiting negative personality traits.

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Domestic violence can cause trauma and stress to the child. He can develop a fear psychosis, sense of insecurity, and lack of trust.

Because the child has experienced so much aggression at home, he also develops the tendency to become aggressive at small things. He starts hilling school children and play mates. Such children become possessive and enter into frequent fights.

Children who are frequently hit by parents or watch mother and father physically abusing each other lose concentration. They become destructive by nature. They stop focusing on studies and getting good grades in exams.

Toddlers and infants who experience domestic violence start throwing frequent temper tantrums.

Children who experience domestic violence at home learn to use wrong and offensive language. They are seen talking to their school mates and friends in an abusive language. They raise their voice on small issues and have frequent skirmishes.

In many households, children suffer physical injury while intervening between the fighting parents. There are chances that the child is unknowingly hurt while parents are throwing objects at each other for hitting. Such situations can also cause serious physical injury to the child. Many cases of severe physical injury come to hospital on a regular basis.

Research shows that in most of the cases of juvenile delinquency, the child’s background has been marked by domestic violence, parents’ separation, or other unhappy conditions at home. Such children are more prone to committing crimes.

It is very important for couples to control their emotions in front of children. In order to raise children to be good human beings, the parents have to set good example. Effects of domestic violence on children are extremely damaging for their personality.

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