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| Exposure to violence endangers children |
Studies conducted by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services estimate that 10 to 20 percent of children are at risk for exposure to domestic violence. This estimation means that from 3.3 to 10 million children witness the abuse of a parent or adult caregiver each year.
Public opinion of domestic violence and its affects on children
A study conducted by the Human Services Policy Center indicates that the general public feels:
- Exposure to violence harms and endangers all children.
- Mothers who stay with an abuser are not protecting their children.
- Childhood exposure to violence is a form of maltreatment.
- Child protective intervention is needed in these circumstances.
- No place is safe.
- Adults cannot protect themselves or their children.
- Keeping the secret of domestic violence is difficult and shameful.
- They are responsible for protecting the victim.
Understanding the difficulties experienced by children exposed to domestic violence
In addition to the risk of direct physical abuse, children who live in a violent home experience emotional and psychological abuse. According the to U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Child Welfare Information Gateway, children experience many difficulties including:
- Behavioral, social, and emotional problems - Children exposed to domestic violence tend to be more aggressive, depressed, and anxious. They may develop anger, low self-esteem, and have difficulties building social relationships. They feel shame and may even blame themselves for the violent situation.
- Cognitive and attitudinal problems - Children who experience domestic violence have difficulties at school. They form a belief in rigid gender stereotypes and male privilege. They develop slower cognitive development, lack of conflict resolution skills, and limited problem solving skills.
- Long-term problems - Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to be abusers or victims as adults. The trauma of experiencing the violence may lead to depression later in life and studies have shown that it may even lead to premature death.
"They also are more disobedient at home and at school, and are more likely to have social competence problems, such as poor school performance and difficulty in relationships with others. Child witnesses display inappropriate attitudes about violence as a means of resolving conflict and indicate a greater willingness to use violence themselves."
Affects of domestic violence vary among children
It appears that the gender of the child has some affect on how this emotional trauma is reflected in a child's behavior. Boys tend to exhibit more "externalized behaviors", like aggression, while the behavior of girls is more "internalized", exhibiting withdrawal or depression.
Younger children appear to exhibit emotional distress at a higher level than older children. It is believed that the older children may have a better understanding of the violence and may have adapted better coping strategies. No child is immune to the devastating effects of domestic violence and it is the most toxic form of violence exposure.
Long lasting effects of domestic violence on children
There is no doubt that a child who witnesses violence between parents or caretakers is at a very high risk of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
"Men who witnessed domestic violence as children are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children."
Some states are taking action to protect children from domestic violence
Some states are considering legislation which will actually re-define "child neglect" or "child maltreatment" and could place penalties on those who allow their children to witness domestic violence. Other states feel that new laws is not the most effective way to address the problem, but feel that by building better relationships between domestic violence service providers and child protective services may be a better answer.
Most courts recognize the need for children to spend time with both parents, regardless of the relationship between the parents. There are many points of current debate regarding "supervised" and "unsupervised" visitation with children of divorced parents. Due to lack of funding and the shortage of trained professionals, the courts usually order "unsupervised" visitation, which can endanger both the abused parent and the children.
Domestic violence is a very serious problem, but few people seem to understand all of its devastating affects. There are many organizations whose mission is to stop the violence, but all of these efforts leave domestic violence at epidemic levels in the United States.
No one seems to understand that until the abusers are removed from these violent homes and appropriate punishment is rendered, domestic violence will never be brought under control.
Most people get angry and sick to their stomachs when they hear of a child being molested or even murdered, but seem to never have any concern for the children who witness violence and murder and are ashamed to tell anyone about it. These children who live in constant fear are themselves becoming violent.
================================================================= Domestic violence is all around us. It's in our neighborhoods and the places we work. It's not a private matter and it doesn't happen to just poor people. The only way we can help stop it is to talk about it. I would like to hear what you have to say. Please join me on LinkedIn and Google+.--Ken
