Children’s Exposure to Domestic Violence

Children exposed to domestic violence have been and remain a social issue in today’s society. Due to the absence of proper education, knowledge, and intervention strategies, this matter continues to prevail over social resources and programs. One of the reasons this problem remains is due to the fear incubated in women, which is the usual victim, while the male is the typical perpetrator. While this violent aggression is manifested between the mother and father, a child’s exposure to such violence can be considered an indirect form of child abuse, due to the negative psychological consequences of the exposure. The impact and effects of such violence varies depending on the child’s developmental stage. Furthermore, overt violent behavior is more likely to place a male child at risk of becoming the offender and a female child of becoming a victim of child abuse in the future.

The current study will include previous research experiments relevant to a child’s exposure to domestic violence. Additionally, socio-economic factors will be included in this analysis, as well as programs administered by social service agencies, and suggestions for future research. Furthermore, statements provided by children who have been exposed to domestic violence will also be included in this paper. Also, the role of the education system in observing and depicting children who might be exposed to domestic violence will be discussed in the current analysis. Furthermore, this research study will extrapolate the impact of domestic violence on children. Particularly, this analysis will encompass the negative short- and long-term consequences resulting from a child’s exposure to domestic violence. Understanding the effects of exposing a child to domestic violence highlights the intricacies of the sociological and psychological consequences while emphasizing the necessity to implement a more effective prevention method.

Analysis and Previous Literature

To further analyze the processes and likelihood of such events, previous research discussing how domestic violence affects children, the child’s perception, knowledge, and experiences as a witness of domestic violence is crucial. Approximately 1.8 to four million women have been domestically abused and about ten million children observe or are involved in parental domestic violence in the United States per year (Jaffe, Baker, & Cunningham, 2004, 31). Additionally, about fifty percent of pregnant women are beaten by their husbands (Jaffe et al., 2004, 31). This statistical revelation is evidence of the importance in protecting children who are exposed to domestic violence. Particularly, children who are experiencing domestic violence from within their mother’s womb are more likely to experience birth problems. Furthermore, these children are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence from their early years. Consequently, children whose mother was a victim of domestic violence while pregnant have a higher probability of perceiving such violence as a normal behavior until learned otherwise.

During infancy and early childhood stages, children who are exposed to domestic violence are at high risks of receiving body injuries while the violence occurs. Also, the continued dilemma of requiring protection from the primary caregiver who is experiencing feelings of fear and anxiety remains (Jenny, 2011, 506). This finding is associated with the study conducted by Berger regarding the absence of the formation of proper emotional attachment with the child’s primary caregiver is an inhibitor to the psychological formation of the first psychosocial phase of the child (2010, 347; Kolbo, Blakely, Engleman, 1996, 281-293). As children surpass this crucial developmental stage without the proper formation of trust, it is more likely for the child to develop insecurities and mistrust in future relationships, friendships, or other social bonds. Additionally, throughout the child’s infancy and early years, witnessing domestic violence can reinforce a child’s natural internal feelings of fear and dependency. Consequently, the child becomes at risk of having difficulties to sleep while developing long term consequences, such as a relapse in language and toileting (jenny, 2011, 506). These negative psychological, sociological, and physiological impacts are detrimental to the upbringing of the child.

Children are exposed to violence through several mediums, such as media violence, school settings, and domestically. The predominant setting in which children are exposed to abuse, neglect, and battery in America is at the home (Osofsky, 1997, 126). Such exposure to violence affects and molds the child’s development including their genetic construction, emotional attachment, and the ability to cope in stressful situations (Jenny, 2011, 503). It is the responsibility of the child’s parents to monitor the development of these intrinsic factors, which play a part in determining the type of person the child will become. A parent who is a victim of domestic violence is unable to educate their child without exposing them to a life of violence, fear, stress, and suffering. The difficulty in providing a positive child development lies in the parent’s unstable psychological state. As the child is exposed to the violent behavior, it is more likely that the child will exhibit the learned behavior. Consequently, the abused parent is more likely to develop an authoritarian parenting style, which is conducive to more violence and less love and affection. Most significantly, abused mothers are at risk of inflicting and releasing their pain and frustration upon their children through emotional and physical violence. Former studies performed by Jenny revealed that women who received some form of domestic violence during their postpartum stage were more likely to display signs of hostility towards their child (2011, 506). This serves as a testament to the negative impact domestic violence has on children.

A domestic violence household is usually one of low socio-economic status. Additionally, children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience maltreatment (Jenny, 2011, 504). These co-occurrences often happen due to low financial resources. Furthermore, children who witness their mothers being abused are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Jenny, 2011, 504; Levendosky, Huth-Bocks, Semel, Shapiro, 2002, 150-164). Additionally, these children are more likely to develop fear, stress, and anxiety, which are all indicators of PTSD. Consequently, the child becomes at risk of feeling unprotected and distant from their primary caregiver; thus, resulting in a loss of emotional attachment (Edleson, 1999, 839-870). An emotional connection between the child and nurturing parent is crucial to their growth and development. Particularly, as the child commences the stage of adolescence, the significance of a solid emotional connection with their primary caregiver is necessary to cope with Erickson’s fifth psychosocial crisis regarding identity versus role confusion (Berger, 2010, 348). It is vital to assess and intervene in the lives of children exposed to domestic violence to prevent additional negative consequences in their developmental process, as a result of the exposure.

Furthermore, children exposed to domestic violence are at higher risk of experiencing vulnerability. Previous studies demonstrate that younger children were more likely to blame themselves for not being able to prevent the violence amongst their parents (Gorin, 2004, 36). Often times, children feel at fault and as the cause for their parent’s violence. Consequently, children begin to display feelings of embarrassment regarding their parent’s behavior. These negative feelings of embarrassments are more likely to interfere with the child’s freedom of expressing their feelings and the violence they witness to others. As a result, children exposed to domestic violence develop and mature with hidden and oppressed feelings, which might result in negative behaviors, such as isolation and social detachment.

Statements directly from children display the emotional torture they experience in a household with a violent environment. The uncertainty and inability to defend the abused parent from the perpetrating parent is emotionally and psychologically deteriorating. Personal testaments provided by at risk children include confessions where the child pleaded the abused parent to inform them about what was happening during the violent encounters, as oppose to closing doors to prevent the child from viewing the violence (Gorin, 2004, 16). Additionally, thoughts about what could be happening to their abused parent are emotionally dreadful. These negative experiences are also conducive to the development of anxiety and stress disorders. While a parent can relieve their child from stressful factors, such as those pertaining to their growth and psychological development, parents can also inhibit their child from receiving a positive emotional and mental upbringing. Parents who are victims of domestic violence tend to lose their self-confidence and high self-esteem (Jenny, 2011, 504). Instead, they become distant and transmit a lack of reassurance, which is crucial for a child’s development.

Analysis, Social Interventions, and Suggestions

To assess, prevent, and reduce the number of domestic violence children are exposed to, programs focusing on several intervention strategies have been implemented. One of the basic goals of these programs is to educate children and young individuals about the domestic violence phenomenon to reduce the exposure to violent domestic behavior (Humphreys & Stanley, 2006, 69). An example of deterrence strategies used is based on the social learning theory, which is based on the basis that all behavior, whether positive and/or negative is learned through observation (Humphreys & Stanley, 2006, 69). As a result, if children are placed in a positive environment and exposed to constructive behavior, then the negative and violent behavior the child learned is more likely to be retracted. Also, this model is more likely to reduce the probability of the child becoming a violent person in the future, as people who are the perpetrators of domestic violence were usually exposed to such abuse during their childhood stages (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2009). Not every child who has been exposed to domestic violence will become either an abuser or a victim; however, they are at a higher risk of becoming as such, then children who are not exposed to such violence.

Social workers are one of the professions with a greater ability to assist children who experience domestic violence. Particularly, because they are skilled individuals with the training necessary to perceive the psychological and emotional abuse concealed within a child’s mind, through expressed emotions and behaviors. Also, police officers meet with numerous women who are victims of domestic violence; thus, police officers also come in contact with children who are exposed to such violence and abuse. The issue social workers and police officers encounter is the lack of knowledge regarding the cause that leads to the violence, the resources available, and the extent to which they should intervene in such abusive environment (Mullender, 1996, 7). According to section 17(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989, departments of social services are “to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need, by providing an appropriate range and level of services” (Mullender, 1996, 100). As the parent lives in fear of the perpetrator’s abuse, the child is left without the proper attention and adequate development. At times, the abused parent neglects their child; thus, committing an indirect form of child abuse.

Another crucial social intervention strategy is the role and involvement of the education system in the lives of their students. Since educators have immediate access to children for the most part during the day, in addition to teaching children academic material, educators are an important agent in providing several services to address social issues, such as domestic violence (Humphreys & Stanley, 2006, 71).While exposure to domestic violence is not evident through the child’s physical appearance, it is more apparent through the child’s behavioral and emotional behavior. Conversely, schools can also reinforce violent behavior by allowing student fights and hate behavior. Consequently, this exposure to violence at schools, in addition to the domestic violence a child is exposed to, can lead to a negative disruption in the proper formation and development of a child. More importantly, domestic violence is more likely to lead a child to academic failure. Often times, the usual victim of domestic violence, which is the mother, tend to submit in silence to their husbands without revealing the violent behavior that occurs at the home. To target this fear of expression and freedom, collaborative efforts amongst several social service agencies will more likely lead to more productive and effective results.

Providing assistance to children and families who seek help is another suggestion to reduce children’s exposure to domestic violence, as oppose to overlooking their situation due to other pressing issues. According to the research conducted by Hester, Pearson, and Harwin, social workers were found to “discourage women from leaving their violent male partners” (2000, 169). Basic principles should be implemented to reduce domestic violence, initiating from social workers transmitting positive suggestions, such as encouraging women to end their relationship with their male partners. This primary decision is probably the most difficult step to take, and the support of social workers is imperative. Additionally, shifting the focus on mothers (usual victim) to the father (usual abuser), has been productive in assessing the abusers.

Conclusion

The current research study focused on analyzing the impact of domestic violence on children. Specifically, this paper discussed the negative short- and long-term effects, as a result from exposure to domestic violence. Previous research was included to support the current investigation. Factors, such as a family’s socio-economic status and its association to domestic violence were included in this research. This paper also incorporates impactful statements provided directly from children exposed to domestic violence. The education system was also discussed, as they are one of the primary and direct contacts with children in collaboration with social service agencies. Some of the effects experienced by children who are exposed to domestic violence were acute signs of distress, mistrust, and anxiety. Consequently, these effects resulted in an emotional detachment between the child and the primary caregiver, which was demonstrated to be the maternal figure. This study analyzed the several effects of exposure to domestic violence on children, which revealed an effect in the child’s perception, knowledge, and experiences. Significantly, infants and younger children exposed to domestic violence were at higher risks of suffering physical injuries while older children were at risk of receiving physical abuse from the abused parent and developing violent behaviors and/or feelings of guilt and shame.

The intervention of social workers was demonstrated to be crucial in assisting at risk children, due to their professional knowledge and training. This paper included suggestions to increase the effectiveness of social programs targeting children exposed to domestic violence. Suggestions for future research include analyzing current and potential social intervention methods administered at schools. Particularly, a primary assessment of the child and individual conferences with their parents should be experimented. Participants should include male and female students between one to seventeen years of age, particularly of low and high socio-economic status

References

Berger, K. S. (2010). Adolescence. Invitation to the life span (p. 348). New York: Worth.

Edleson, J. L. (1999). Children's Witnessing of Adult Domestic Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(8), 839-870.

Gorin, S. (2004). Understanding children's feelings, Understanding children's experiences. Understanding what children say: children's experiences of domestic violence, parental substance misuse and parental health problems (pp. 16, 36). London: National Children's Bureau.

Hester, M., Pearson, C., & Harwin, N. (2000). Social care responses to domestic violence and abuse of children. Making an impact: children and domestic violence: a reader (p. 169). London: Jessica Kinglsley Publishers.

Humphreys, C., & Stanley, N. (2006). Prevention programmes for children and young people. Domestic violence and child protection directions for good practice (pp. 69, 71). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Jaffe, P. G., Baker, L. L., & Cunningham, A. J. (2004). Young children exposed to adult domestic violence: Incidence, assessment, and intervention. Protecting children from domestic violence: strategies for community intervention (p. 31). New York: Guilford Press.

Jenny, C. (2011). Psychological impact on and treatment of children who experience domestic violence. Child abuse and neglect diagnosis, treatment, and evidence (pp. 503-504). St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier.

Kolbo, J. R., Blakely, E. H., & Engleman, D. (1996). Children Who Witness Domestic Violence: A Review of Empirical Literature. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11(2), 281-293.

Levendosky, A. A., Huth-Bocks, A. C., Semel, M. A., & Shapiro, D. L. (2002). Trauma Symptoms in Preschool-Age Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(2), 150-164.

Mullender, A. (1996). The terms of the debate. Rethinking domestic violence: the social work and probation response (pp. 7, 100). London: Routledge.

Osofsky, J. D. (1997). Neurodevelopmental factors. Children in a violent society (p. 126). New York: Guilford Press.

Welfare Information Gateway. (n.d.). Domestic Violence and the Child Welfare System. Impact of Domestic Violence on Children. from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domestic_violence/impact.cfm