How Are Children Affected By Living in Violent Homes?

Research has shown that abused women are not necessarily more likely to come from abusive homes themselves. However, male abusers are at least ten times more likely to have seen their fathers beat their mothers while they were growing up compared to non-abusers.

Service providers, friends, community members, teachers, and relatives need to be diligent in watching for signs of emotional and physical abuse in children. In addition to bruises, other signs of child abuse include (a) excessive shyness in girls and excessive aggression in boys, (b) drug use, (c) frequent illnesses, (d) anxiety, and (e) not being able to concentrate. Adults can do the following to lessen the effects of domestic violence on children: 

• Teach and model non-violent methods of conflict resolution
• Include content about domestic violence in extra-curricular activities and school classes
• Understand the child abuse laws in their state, including mandatory reporting
• Be diligent about watching for signs of trauma and abuse
• Reach out to children and help them express their feelings in healthy and non-violent ways