CONTENTS | PAGE 1

CONTENTS

Overview

Causes

Effects

Resources

Assess
yourself

References

Overview of Family Violence 2

Causes of Family Violence 6
Effects of Family Violence on Young Children
Resources and Services 15
Important Contact Details 28
Assess Yourself 29
References 30

11

OVERVIEW | PAGE 2

Definition of Family Violence

Family violence is legally defined as the commission of any of these acts:
a)
b)
c)
d)

deliberately putting, or attempting to put, a family member in fear of hurt;

intentionally causing hurt to a family member;
unjustly restricting a family member against his will; or
knowingly causing anguish to a family member through continual harassment.

A family member is defined as the persons spouse or former spouse, child, parent,
parent-in-law sibling or relative.

OVERVIEW OF
FAMILY VIOLENCE

OVERVIEW OF FAMILY
VIOLENCE

CAUSES | PAGE 10

CAUSES OF FAMILY
VIOLENCE

CAUSES OF FAMILY
VIOLENCE
Causes of Family Violence
Single-parenting

Children from single-parent families are at higher risk of being abused as well as neglected
emotionally and educationally. This is because; single parents are often too preoccupied
with their work to meet household and financial needs; this hinders their ability to provide
love, care and guidance to their children, possibly causing child neglect. Additionally, the
pressure faced by these single-parents in child-rearing and meeting the household financial
demands increases the risk of them abusing their children.

Large family size

Large family size; defined as families with four or
more children, increases the risk of adults abusing
their family members. This is because; a large
family size is likely to place greater
responsibilities and demands on an adult; resulting
in increasing amount of stress and frustrations
and decreasing leisure opportunities; possibly
causing one to maltreat his family members.

Lack of preparation
A lack of preparation in child-rearing can cause
parents to abuse and neglect their children. When
parents are unprepared to take on parental role,
they are prone to lack basic care-giving skills such
as housecleaning and food preparation, causing
them to neglect their children. Additionally, the
lack of knowledge of child development can result
in parents setting unrealistic expectations on their
children and be overly reliant on physical
punishment to control childrens behaviour;
resulting in child abuse.

EFFECTS | PAGE 12

EFFECTS OF
FAMILY VIOLENCE

EFFECTS OF FAMILY
VIOLENCE
Effects of Family Violence on Young Children:
Behavioural and Emotional Aspects
Aggressive behaviours

In a physically abusive household, aggression is modelled as a way to solve problems

and as an appropriate behaviour. Therefore children who have experienced family
violence themselves were more likely to engage in aggressive behaviours including
fighting and violent criminal activity. In addition, these children have greater risk of
abusing their future spouses, children and own elderly parents.

Internalizing symptoms
Child victims of family violence
generally have a lower self-esteem and
demonstrate a higher rate of
hopelessness and depression than their
non-abused peers. Although some might
only be witness of family violence, they
still live in constant fear and anxiety.

Psychiatric disorder
Children who are victims of childhood
physical abuse are at a greater risk of
suffering from a range of psychiatric
disorders. This includes major depression,
dysthymia, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conduct
disorder and oppositional defiant
disorder.

Post traumatic stress disorder

Being physically abused as a child increases the likelihood that the individual develops
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a disorder that arises after someone has
experienced an intense, negative event. A person suffering from this disorder will
persistently re-experience the event, avoid reminders of the event and show increased
forms of arousal.

RESOURCES AND SERVICES | PAGE 26

For perpetrator

Go for Substance Abuse Programmes to

Get Support to Break Free from Violence.

RESOURCES AND
SERVICES

Resources and services

Substance Abuse Programmes

Substance abusers who are prone to violent behaviour are at high-risk of family
violence. The effect of the drug or alcohol can cause a person to lose self-control and
consequently hurt the victim more severely. This can result in serious injuries and even
death for the victim. If you are a drug addict or an alcoholic, you need professional
help to kick the habit. There are many agencies that run treatment/support programme
to help alcohol/drug abusers. Their numbers and services are listed below:

ORGANISATION

ADDRESS

TELEPHONE

SERVICES

InstituteofMental
Health(IMH)

10BuangkokView
Singapore539747

63892529

AlexandraHospital

378AlexandraRoad
Singapore159964

64722000

CentralNarcotics
Bureau

393NewBridgeRoad 63256666
Singapore088763

SingaporeAnti
Narcotics
Association(SANA)

2OrchardBoulevard
Singapore248643

Centrefor
Promoting
Alternativesto
Violence(PAVE)

Block211AngMoKio 65550390
Avenue3#011446
Singapore560211

Incareandfollowup
treatmentofalcohol
anddrugs
dependency,
psychologicalor
psychiatricproblems
Incareandfollowup
treatmentofalcohol
addiction
Voluntaryadmission
toadrug
rehabilitationcentre
fordrug/inhalant
abusers
Aftercarecounselling
fordrugabusers,
24hourhelplinefor
drug/inhalantabusers
Recovery/Support
programmefor
alcoholabuserswho
commitfamily
violence

18007334444
18007324444

ASSESS YOURSELF | PAGE 29

ASSESS
YOURSELF

ASSESS YOURSELF
The questions below will tell you whether or not you
have been treating family members in a way that is
abusive or that may lead to abuse. If you answer "Yes"
for more than five questions, you are at risk that
family violence is or will be part of your life.

Questions
1. Areyouextremelyjealousandpossessive?

2. Doyouhaveanexplosivetemper?

3. Doyouoftenorconstantlyridicule,criticiseorinsultyourfamily
members?
4. Haveyoubrokenorthrownthingsatothers?

5. Haveyouhit,grabbed,pushed,kickedorotherwiseinjured
otherswhenyouwereangry?
6. Haveyouforcedotherstohavesex,orintimidatedthemsothey
areafraidtosayno?
7. Haveyouthreatenedtokillyourselfifyourpartnerleavesyou?

8. Doyouconstantlyquestionyourpartnerabouthisorher
whereaboutsorphonecalls?
9. Doyouspyyourpartnerorcallconstantlytocheckonhimorher?

10. Doyoufeelyouhavetherighttotellyourfamilymemberswhat
todo,whomtotalk,wheretogoandwhattowear?
11. Doyougiveyourpartnerultimatumsandmakehimorher
choosebetweenyouandotherthingsinhisorherlife?
12. Ifyouhurtyourpartner,doyoublamehimorher?

13. Doyoumakeexcusesforyourownnegativeactions?

Yes

No