Anxiety in Children and Domestic Violence
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Anxiety in Children and Domestic Violence
==Intro==
Domestic violence is an issue that affects so many people. Domestic violence is physical injury, serious physical injury, sexual assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical injury, serious physical injury, sexual abuse, or assault . It affects the abuser, the victim(s), and the people standing by witnessing the abuse. Often, the bystanders are children of the domestic violence. Children are usually aware of the abuse as well. Between eighty to ninety percent of children that live in a home with domestic violence are aware that it is occurring . Being a witness to domestic violence doesn’t always mean just seeing the actual act of abuse.
According to Domestic Violence Roundtable,
“Witnessing can mean SEEING actual incidents of physical/and or sexual abuse. It can mean HEARING threats or fighting noises from another room. Children may also OBSERVE the aftermath of physical abuse such as blood, bruises, tears, torn clothing, and broken items. Finally, children may be AWARE of the tension in the home such as their mother’s fearfulness when the abuser’s car pulls into the driveway.” .
Domestic violence is characterized by two main components, power and control. Characteristics that would be considered in power and control are: intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying, blaming, children, male privilege, economic abuse, and using coercion and threats .
==Prevalence of Anxiety in Children involved in Domestic Violence==
An abusive home environment can and will cause mental scarring for children. One primary feeling that will constantly be present with children in domestic violence homes is anxiety. Roughly three to four million children, between the ages of three and seventeen, have the potential to be exposed to domestic violence. That is a tremendous number of children that will suffer from the anxiety of seeing a parent or guardian abused or be abused.
==Feelings that Come Along with Anxiety and Domestic Violence==
Some of the feelings that come with anxiety are paranoia and a constant not knowing of when it will happen again . For people, including children, living in constant stress or fear can create a constant high level of anxiety . According to UNICEF, “Infants and small children who are exposed to violence in the home experience so much added emotional stress that it can harm the development of their brains and impair cognitive and sensory growth.” If children do not see it themselves, they will typically imagine it even worse in their head causing even more trauma and anxiety . Some of the consequences of domestic violence for children are having a fear for the parent, feeling distant from the parent, being worried for the parent, being protective of a parent, anger or resentment of a parent, and an inability to trust a parent .
==External Effects of Anxiety in Children and Domestic Violence==
Due to the constant anxiety of a broken home life, school aged students may suffer in the classroom, also having a lack of focus and attention . The constant stress and anxiety put on children who are in a domestic violence home can lead to other things like depression, feeling isolated, and other mental issues. Sometimes, children may attempt to get in the middle of the conflict to end the abuse, trying to relieve the pain and anxiety being inflicted from the abuser. Other times, children may even join in on the abuse of a parent . This may be a way of trying to avoid further conflict and coping.
References[edit]
Anxiety expert discusses effects of domestic abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mental Healthy
Davis, G. (2015). A Systematic Approach to Domestic Abuse-Informed Child Custody Decision Making in Family Law Cases. Family Court Review, 565-577.
Domestic Violence Roundtable. (2008). The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. Retrieved from Domestic Violence Roundtable
Foley, M. (2018, April 12). Working with Victims of Domestic Violence.
UNICEF. (2006). Behind Closed Doors The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children. UNICEF, 4.
External links[edit]
Anxiety expert discusses effects of domestic abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mental Healthy: *[http://www.mentalhealthy.co.uk/news/699-anxiety-expert-discusses-effects-of-domestic-abuse.html]
Domestic Violence Roundtable. (2008). The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. Retrieved from Domestic Violence Roundtable: *[http://www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org/effect-on-children.html]
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