Domestic Violence & Children
Some Keypoints On The Impact Of Domestic Violence On Children
Violence against women hurts children too.
According to Health Canada, of all Canadian children, 11% to 23% have witnessed some form of violence against their mother in their home. It has great effect on children and they suffer the abuse along with their mother. Research has shown that there are physical, emotional, psychological and behavioural impacts. There is also the increased risk that when there is violence shown to their mother, children are at an increased risk of being directly abused themselves.
Impacts include but are not limited to:
- Emotional and behaviour problems similar to children who have been physically abused
- Aggressive behaviour – 'acting out'
- Non-compliance
- Easy to anger
- May destroy property and/or get into fights
- May experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem
- May not seem to have much compassion or understanding of other people’s feelings or concerns
- May complain of aches, pains or illness without any medical reason
- May experience signs of stress
- Difficulty concentrating at school or become deeply involved with school as a means of escaping the situation at home
- May appear sad, anxious or worried
- Tend to use aggressive problem-solving strategies
- May re-experience traumatic events, have nightmares
- Have inappropriate attitudes about women and violence. May be desensitized to violence or other people’s pain
- May act or talk as though they are responsible for problems at home
If you are concerned about the impacts of violence and your child, please phone us for information on help and support in our community. (705)476-2429
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