Domestic Violence

Domestic violence has a damaging effect on children and adolescents, both emotionally and psychologically. The term domestic violence defines the physical, emotional, sexual, social, verbal and financial abused hurled by domestic partners on each other. Children living in homes which are infested with domestic violence witness at least three- quarters of the bad incidences between adults.

Nearly half the children in abusive families have themselves been subjected to beatings and emotional abuse. Children living midst domestic violence are also more vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse. It should be obvious to any sensitive individual that a child witnessing physical and psychological violence between his parents is bound to be effected.

Children living in such circumstances show signs of distress and stress in their behavior. Their anxiety often manifests in the form of aches and pains, bed wetting, sleep disorders, aggression, cowardice or extremely childish behavior. They are seen to have temper tantrums and loose concentration. Boys from violent homes become disobedient and violent – and start using aggression to solve their problems. This they learn by aping adult behavior. Adolescent males can play truant and can succumb to drugs and alcohol.

A girl child from violent home can withdraw from society and become completely depressed. Girls are seen to loose their self esteem and imagine physical distress. They can also become suicidal, cut themselves and have eating disorders. Females bottle up their anxiety and can get drawn into bad relationships as teenagers. Children from violent family often perform badly in academics. Post-traumatic stress disorders like nightmares and flashbacks are also observed in such children.

The long term effect of domestic violence on children can be very damaging to society. Children from violent homes usually grow up to be violent and abusive themselves. Parents are the role models for children and they copy their behavior as adults. Boys learn to be violent like their fathers and girls learn to accept violence like their mothers, as something expected and unavoidable. However there are many instances of children turning against their parent’s behavior and trying hard not to make the same mistakes. But children from unhappy and violent families often lack social qualities and find it difficult to get on with other people.

Society should be made aware of the harmful effect of domestic violence on children. A sensitive society will help the victims themselves resist such violence, and seek help. Professionals like teachers, doctors, social workers and nurses should always make themselves available to battered children for guidance and advice when needed. Posters and other printed material about the effect of domestic violence on children should be pasted in schools, health centers and community centers to give information and guidance to all. Legal advice should also be easily accessible to children in dangerous situations arising from domestic violence. Any help offered to children who are victims of domestic violence is a long term commitment on many levels. Concrete help involves survival needs like a safe place to live, money to get along and distance from abuse. Counselling and psychotherapy should be given to the parent who is a victim of domestic violence. Contact arrangements and schools have to resort to such measures, as these are like special needs. Children of domestic violence might also need extra help and counseling by their teachers in school, to cope with the rigors of academics.