Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
- Children who witness domestic violence are at increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Most experts believe that children who are raised in abusive homes learn that violence is an effective way to resolve conflicts and problems.
- Older children may be harmed while trying to protect the abused parent. Children in violent homes may “indirectly” receive injuries. They may be hurt when household items are thrown or weapons are used. Infants may be injured if being held by the survivor when the abuser strikes out.
- Although children may not observe the violence, they almost always are aware that it is occurring.
- Children from violent homes often experience depression, anxiety, fear, and guilt. These children live in constant fear of injury to their non-abusive parent and themselves. They may feel guilty about loving or hating the abuser, blame themselves for causing the violence or feel utterly helpless about being able to stop the violence.
Effects of Domestic Violence on Woman
Domestic violence has a significant impact on the health and well-being of women both in the immediate and longer term, continuing even after the relationship has ended. The psychological consequences of violence can be as serious as the physical effects. Exposure to violence leads to poorer physical health overall compared with women who have not experienced violence and it increases the risk of women developing a range of health problems.
Immediate health impacts
- Physical injuries - such as cuts, scrapes and bruises, fractures, dislocated bones and Hearing loss
- Vision loss Miscarriage or early delivery
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Knife wounds
- Homicide
Long term health impacts
- Gastrointestinal disorders associated with stress
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Fainting Seizures
- Gynaecological problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Alcohol and substance misuse
- Suicide
- Homicide
Effects of Domestic Violence on Man
Male victims of domestic violence can and are frequently victims of abuse in the home, either at the hands of their female or, in the case of same-sex relationships, their male partner. Abuse is a control issue - abusers believe they have the right to manipulate, control and humilate another person, and this belief is not only held by some men but also by some women.
Many of the effects of abuse for the male victim of domestic violence are the same as for women. They are likely to feel deeply shamed, frightened, experience a loss of self-worth and confidence, feel isolated, guilty and confused about the situation.
A lot of male victims of abuse however, have great difficulty defining it as such. This is partially due to the image in society generally has of Man. Men are often thought of as strong, domineering and macho. Boys, even at a young age, are taught that it is unmanly to cry ("big boys don't cry"). To many, the idea of a grown man being frightened or vulnerable is a taboo, the idea of a man - usually physically the stronger - of being battered, ludicrous. Hence many male victims of abuse may feel "less of a man" for suffering abuse, feel as though they are in some way not manly enough and ought to have the ability to prevent the abuse.
The reality though is that even if a man is physically attacked by their wives or partners, many men will take a beating rather than hitting back to defend themselves and risk harming their attacker, and even if they do, they are aware that they then risk being accused of being an abuser themselves. But abuse is not always physical, and a lot of men, in common with many women, face daily emotional, verbal and psychological abuse in silence for years, their self-esteem being slowly eroded away, more and more isolated from those around them.
Written By
Andy Satyakusuma
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