Research project

: Domestic Violence And Its Effects On Children Contents Summary

123456Definition Summary Research Findings Conclusion Recommendations Refferences

Gadzikwa

Definition

Domestic violence typically involves a pattern of physical , sexual , emotional and intimidation which escalates in frequency and severity over time . It can be understood as the misuse of power and exercise of control by one partner over the other in an intimate relationship, usually by a man over a woman, and occasionally by a woman over a man (though without the same pattern of societal collusion and also occurring amongst same sex couples. It has profound consequences in the lives of individuals , families and communities .1

On the other note domestic violence can be said to occur when a family member uses violent /and/or abusive behaviour to control another family member or members. Domestic violence include physical , verbal , emotional , economic or sexual abuse. For example , hitting , kicking , punching, choking , damaging property , yelling , insults , threats , bullying , withholding and controlling finances , unwanted sexual acts and even forced sex. Women and children are the majority of those who are subjected to abusive and violent behaviours in the home from their male partners , fathers , step fathers and even extended relatives. Domestic violence cut across all sections of the community . It doesnt matter if you have a disability or not , or you are young or old and it doesnt matter you are homosexual or heterosexual. For people who use violence , useful definition of violence is any action which is experienced by another as intimidating or causing fear and therefore having the effect of limiting the agency of another , in this case children.

SUMMARY There are a number of ways in which children may be directly physically abused or injured when living with domestic violence. They may be accidentally injured because they become caught in the violence which is usually directed at their mothers : they may be the subject of separate incidents of physical abuse by the same man who is also abusive of their mothers or vice versa ; they may also suffer greater levels of physical punishment or abuse from their over-stressed mothers. Effects of domestic violence on children, result from witnessing domestic violence in a home where one of the parents or both abuses the other, playing a tremendous role on the well-being and developmental growth of children witnessing the violence. In 2009 in the Philippines , it was estimated that as any as 7 to 14 million children were exposed to domestic violence with about 3.3 million exposed to domestic violence in their homes every year. Children who witness domestic violence often believe they are to blame , live in a constant state of fear and are 15 times more likely to be victims of child abuse. Close observation during an interaction can alert providers to the need for further investigation and intervention, such as dysfunctions in the physical , behavioural , emotional and social areas of life ; and can aid in early intervention and assistance for child victims.2

When describing the effects of domestic violence on children , it is important to note that domestic violence and child abuse are often present in the same families . In homes where domestic violence occurs , children are physically abused and neglected at a rate 15 times higher than national average. Several studies have shown that in 60 to 75 % of families in which a woman is battered , children are also battered .3 Many children in families where domestic violence has occurred exhibit the following general symptoms , academic problems , aggression , anger , fear feelings of guilty , general emotional distress , alienation , obsessive behaviour, low levels of empathy, lack of self esteem ,insomnia , nightmares , posttraumatic stress disorder , truancy , withdrawal from activities, poor-problem solving skills , suicidal tendencies and a various other growth set backs which can generally be classified as physical , behavioural , cognitive, emotional and social. It must how ever be noted that effects vary according to age , economic and social circumstances. In some situations domestic violence is difficult to identify due to cultural and religious acceptance of negative behaviour being regarded as normal.

RESEARCH FINDINGS Impact on behavioural and emotional wellbeing Generally , children witnessing domestic violence have significantly frequent behavioural and emotional problems than children who are not in these abusive environments . A Canadian study of 102 children in shelters shows that more than (20% girls and 34 % boys ) had scores on tests which put them in the clinical range of problems for social competence and behaviour problems . This was 2.5 % times the rate of a comparison group of children from non-violent families . Children who have been both physically abused as well as witnessing the violence tend to show the highest levels of behavioural and emotional disturbance. 4 Individual children react in very different ways to the violence they are experiencing or witnessing. Some children are reported to be more aggressive and anti-social externalised behaviours, others have high rates of depression , anxiety and trauma symptoms- internalised behaviours . The findings from the above studies that compared control groups of children in non-abusive environments are echoed in qualitative studies such as research on child workers in refugees reporting aggression and withdrawn and non-communicative behaviour. Impact on cognitive abilities Childrens cognitive abilities are also often affected by their experiences of living with domestic violence. Studies found that children who had recently left violent situations and were currently residing in refuges , showed significantly lower levels of competence on a number of parameters , including school performance , than children from a comparison group, with younger children being particularly affected . It has been suggested that this may be due to distracting impact of what is going at home , as well as disrupted schooling from moving from refuges to new addresses if family is being pursued . An example is provided by a USA study which compared 37 children known to be living with violence but not in a refuge and not thought to be directly abused themselves with other children not living with violence. It reported below average school performance in the children

living with violence , a doubled rate of absence from school, behavioural problems observed in class , and 38 % of the sample ( more than double the expected rate ) receiving some form of special educational service.5 However the effects of domestic violence on childrens cognitive abilities is conflicting. Mathias et al (1955) found no significant difference between children living with domestic violence and other children. Practitioners report that school may be a safe and happier place for children than in a difficult home life. Of immediate practical concern is getting children into school when they have to leave home or move refuge; local autonomy of schools however makes this more difficult.

The different effects of age The precise way in which an individual child reacts depend upon age, personality, circumstances and so on. Reactions may also change over time. Children need to make sense of their experiences and developmental abilities are crucial in determining how this might occur. Infants are only able to indicate their distress through their health or development. Babies under one who witness domestic violence have been characterised with poor health , poor sleeping habits and excessive screaming. They are , of course, entirely dependent on others for their care , yet , as seen below , postpartum period is a particularly risk period for moderate to severe violence, thus making it difficult for some women to offer the quality of care they would wish . A serious concern is also arising in relation to attacks on women by their partners during pregnancy. An overview article of research in this by Stanko highlighted dangers to the woman and to the unborn child. The danger does not end with birth . Indeed , the postpartum is the period of greatest risk of moderate to severe domestic violence. Two per cent of women surveyed in GP waiting rooms in Hackney reported a miscarriage they believed to have been caused by a violent partner.8 The attacks on women during pregnancy raise the possibility of a strong link between childrens physical disabilities and domestic violence. Visits to refuge camps confirm a higher prevalence of disabled children than normal community groups. This highlights an area which requires more careful study to come up with substantial results. Practically it also raise issues for proffessionals about the need for screening for domestic violence in anti-natal and health visiting services and for particular attention to the exploration of the needs of women presenting with physical injuries and / or post-natal depression. Children of pre-school age tend to blame themselves for adult anger and to register the highest levels of behavioural disturbance when living with violence.6 School age children often continue to demonstrate behavioural problems .

The different effects of race and ethnicity Researches by Mullender have revealed that Multi ethnic studies seeking childrens own views has found that black children fear bad advice and unsympathetic treatment from white organisations , a fear which reduces the sources of help open to them . Asian children worry about becoming isolated from their communities if they accept help, a concern which is borne out by finding , in the same

study , that those who had experienced such disruption were less settled and secure than others who had been able to remain within their family and community support structures . 7 The role of the family is significant in other ways , too . The same study discovered that proportionately more black children than white had gone to family members as first choice of help, but rather Asian children sometimes spoke of collusion of their fathers extended family with the abuse of their mother, including by female relatives such as grandmother and or aunts . Links with child sexual abuse Although there is less research evidence available , an overlap between domestic violence and child sexual abuse is nevertheless emerging. Research from within the statutory child care system has shown a link between domestic violence and elevated levels of child sexual abuse. A case file analysis of 250 children in substitute care who had been sexually abused or sexually abusing found that 39% came from families where there was domestic violence. This rate rose to 55% in a more detailed follow-up of 40 children by Hester and Pearson who found that over half the children (n111) who had sexually abused and were attending an NSPCC centre had been living with domestic violence. Smaller qualitative studies of women whose children have been sexually abused similarly reveal a high proportion who had suffered domestic violence.8 Flow on effects Other flow on effects from childrens experiences of domestic violence involve the disruption of their community , family and friendship networks, moving schools , and often loosing their home and possessions . Impoverished children and their mothers may find it particularly traumatic to leave communities in which they have found protection from racism and positive support for their cultural and religious life . For traveller women and their children , the only escape from a violent abuser may be to give up their cultural way of life as it is particularly difficult to disappear within the Traveller networks. For disabled children the disruption of particular schooling and care packages may be extremely difficult to replace. These networks of support and resources which respond to their particular needs may have taken years to put in place and put an added restraint on women leaving an abusive situation. Separation frequently involves financial hardship which falls disproportionately on women when they leave any relationship. Violence adds further complications , as women in these situations often believe that fighting for their share of the house or possessions too risky . When taken together , the flow on effects of domestic violence are considerable and often a key restraint to women leaving abusive situations . Staying for the sake of children , is not just about children having a father , but that about the very real emotional and financial hardship created if and when women decided that it is not safe to stay in their own home.

Conclusions In general children who witness domestic violence in the home can suffer a tremendous amount of physical symptoms along with their emotional and behavioural state of despair. These children may complaint of headaches and stomach aches. They may also have irritable and irregular bowel habits , cold, sores , and they may have problems with bedwetting. These complaints have been associated with depressive disorders in children , a common emotional effect of domestic violence. Along with these general complaints of not feeling well , children who witness domestic violence may appear nervous , as previously mentioned and have short attention spans. These children display some of the same symptoms as children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. On the reverse , these children may show symptoms of fatigue and constant tiredness . They may fall asleep in school due to lack of sleep at home . Much of their night may be spent listening to or witnessing violence within the home. Children of domestic violence also have a tendency to partake in high risk activities, self abuse and suicide.

The effects of domestic violence on our society are obviously enormous , but are impossible to measure . our nation suffers . You can see the effects at bus stations , fast-food restaurants , and schools . You can see it on television and in jails . You can see it in peoples faces on the streets hopelessness, pessimism , hard-headedness , meanness. A persons spirit is priceless , and a broken heart costs more than can be measured in dollars. Still think about the cost of domestic violence in terms of just dollars and cents , and its devastating. Abuse victims need medical care. Up to 54% of women seeking emergency services , up to 66% of women seeking general medical care , and up to 20% of women seeking prenatal care report experiencing domestic violence .Victims of abuse also require mental health care. There is enormous cost to the state in the form of time spent by law enforcement officers , courts , lawyers , public health workers and more . There is cost to social welfare organisations in the form of money and donated time tom staff and run shelters , counselling services , hotlines , and more. There is a cost to productivity of our work house in the form of absenteeism , worker re-training in case of death or forced retirement, and decreased productivity. The educational system is required to provide specialised services to children suffering from attention behavioural problems resulting from domestic violence. The very affected children progress is hampered and in most cases breeds social outcasts. Their involvement in crime is heightened and their life expectancy shortened. However caution might be taken in attributing child problems with violence only because some disorders happen from other causes. Parents and leaders must therefore be careful in seeking professional council before reaching conclusions. Recommendations From observation it can be noted that there is a great interrelatedness between domestic violence and other social and economic challenges. This therefore requires a holistic approach to dealing with these matters. For example , these studies highlight the problems that arise if woman abuse is separated from child abuse and child abuse separated from domestic violence. Frequently in cases where domestic violence occurs other matters arise like infidelity, drug abuse , family or friends

interference and cultural and religious influences. All these have a cyclic cause and effect and can easily trigger reactions which require careful examination and avoidance of isolationist treatment.

It is also to be observed that no amount of social work by trusts and organisation can effectively replace the home as the proper place for child development. Thus while it is good to try to prevent and solve domestic problems it is always imperative to inculcate a culture of responsibility to both fathers and mothers. It is also important that issues like unemployment , abuse at work places and faulty religious doctrines be dealt with for all these tent to fuel violence in the home . Instead of treating perpetrators as villains it is also required to see them as victims of their own growth problems which have become normal to them and thus help them overcome such traits. For those who have lived with domestic violence, individual and group work that focuses o practical safety planning and emotional recovery can be of enormous value but it is not yet comprehensively available. Childrens workers in refuges are a national resource that could be built upon with relatively modest additional funding and the major national childrens charities are also developing important projects. Inter-agency work through domestic violence forums , area child protection committees and the like is essential in order to ensure well targeted and effective efforts , but equally important is partnership with women , children , fathers , the extended family and local community so that we never forget whose issue this is and who are the experts on what domestic violence actually means at the personal and community levels.

Refferences 1] Mullender A and Humpreys 1998 Research in practice : Children living with domestic violence. 2] The Alabama Coalition Against domestic violence The effects of Domestic violence on children. 3]Miller D 2010Childrens exposure to violence- Community Violence , Domestic violence 4] Sternberg k, and partners Development psychology 1993 5] Montminy Danna M 1997 Comparative study of children living with domestic violence 6] Davis l and Carson B 1987 Observation of child abuse: what happens to children. 7] Mullender A and Morley R 1994 Children living with domestic violence. 8] Hester m and Pearson c 1998 From Periphery To Centre :domestic violence in work with abused children.