Effects of Violence on Children
Children who live in homes with domestic violence can be deeply affected by the emotional, verbal and physical abuse they have witnessed and experience resulting symptoms of trauma. Many children will feel responsible for the violence and some will even attempt to break up the violence, some of whom end up injured. Many children will blame themselves for not only causing the violence but also for not preventing it. Children must understand that the violence in their homes is not their fault.
Stats
- 5 million children witness domestic violence each year in the US
- 40 million adult Americans grew up living with domestic violence
- Children who’ve experienced domestic violence often meet the diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the effects on their brain are similar to those experienced by combat veterans
- Domestic violence in childhood is directly correlated with difficulties in learning, lower IQ scores, deficiencies in visual-motor skills, and problems with attention and memory
- Children of domestic violence are three times more likely to repeat the cycle in adulthood, as growing up with domestic violence is the most significant predictor of whether or not someone will be engaged in domestic violence later in life
( Stats from Children of Domestic Violence.)
Additional Resources
https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/intimate-partner-violence