The Effects on Children in homes of Domestic Abuse

Have you ever thought of what the consequences are on children in the homes where domestic abuse is ongoing?  Is the sex of the child a deciding factor in whether the child becomes an abuser?

According to the article by John W. Fantuzzo (Fantuzzo, et al., 1991) adult abusers are more likely to have observed interparental violence in the home growing up, than their nonviolent counterparts.  Many of the now adult abusers reported having many different psychological issues growing up.  Some of the abusers stated they had nightmares, depression, problems with aggression and other medical issues growing up.  When comparing children who live in violent homes to those in nonviolent homes, it was discovered that those in violent homes could have a significantly higher chance of having externalizing (cursing, fighting, stealing, destruction of property, etc.) and internalizing (social withdrawal, loneliness, guilt, nervousness, irritability, eating difficulties, etc.) behavioral problems.  They did find that more children living in the violent homes were reporting lower self-esteem, lower levels of self-competence and more distress. 

In the following you tube video;  This is the first video of a series that Dr. Phil does on being an agent of change for Domestic Violence.  The first thing that you will see is a lady by the name of Antoinette give a great poem on the effects of domestic violence in the home.  Approximately 10 minutes into the video Dr. Phil talks about the seriousness of Domestic violence in the home and his wife talks about how a smile can give someone going through so much turmoil Hope and towards the end of the video a spokes person for Verizon talks about the Hopeline.   

 

When they compared the children living in violent homes, who were currently residing in abuse shelters to those not living in violent homes at the preschool age they found similar results.  Those preschoolers who observed violence in the home at a younger age were more likely to have behavioral issues growing up.  Clinical levels of conduct problems and moderate levels of emotional problems were associated with those children who were witnesses to verbal and physical abuse within the home, when you added that the family is staying in an abuse shelter this added lower levels of social functioning and perceived maternal acceptance.  When there was only verbal conflict the children were found to only suffer from a moderate level of conduct problems (Fantuzzo, et al., 1991). 

Treatment for children who have witnessed domestic violence

There are many different forms of therapy available to children who have been exposed to violence.  According the article by Katrina Vikerman and Gayla Margolin some of those therapies are age appropriate and weather the child is as risk of further rejections.  Some of the therapies mentions in Vikerman’s article is individual, group, family and school (Vickerman & Margolin, 2007). 

According the Vikerman’s article cognitive interventions are used to help children and adolescents understand the connection between the violence they witnessed and the reaction they may have had.  This process also introduced the kids to the behaviors that are not normal and that the way they feel is normal considering the circumstances.  Cognitive intervention may also help they undo the harm that they learned living in a violent atmosphere.  What the therapists are trying to relay is that violent behavior is not ok and the violent behaviors that they witnessed is not normal and it is unacceptable (Vickerman & Margolin, 2007).

Some kind of psychotherapy is recommended for the child and the abused.  According the Vickerman’s study there was the most improvement when the mother or the parent being abused saw treatment with the child.  Youth are encouraged to realize that being aggressive is not okay and to think about ways to recognize and deal with their aggression if it were to become an issue (Vickerman & Margolin, 2007).

Conclusion

Children exposed to violence in the home are more likely to become abusers themselves if they are not taken out of the situation and if they do not get the proper therapy in helping to understand their feelings and help understanding that this behavior is not okay. 

 

References

Fantuzzo, J. W., Depaola, L. M., Lambert, L., Martino, T., Anderson, G., & Sutton, S. (1991). Effects of Interparental Violence on the Psychological Adjustment and Competencies of Young Children. JOurnal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 258-265.

Vickerman, K. A., & Margolin, G. (2007). Posttraumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Family Violence: II. Treatment. Professional Psychology, 620-628.