The Effect of Domestic Violence on Children - Essay Example

The Effect of Domestic Violence on Children and Number Semester and Year and ID Number The appears on the second page by itself. It is 100 words or less and should give a brief description of the topic and the major findings gathered from your review. Include a short list of three or four key words at the bottom of the abstract. Do not indent the abstract and do not include any citations; it is just a brief overview of the main findings. The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children According to McDonald et al. (2006), approximately 15.5 million children in the United States live in family settings where partner abuse and violence occurred more than once in the preceding year. Furthermore, McDonald et al. assert that seven million American children reside in families in which domestic violence is very rampant. Research findings also indicate that domestic violence in more prevalent among couples who have children compared to those who do not have children (Letourneau et al, 2013; Kohl et al., 2005). Increasing interest in domestic violence is based on the realization that domestic violence causes long-term effects on children and children will continue being at risk even after the separation of their parents (Kohl et al., 2005). Childhood represents a crucial period of growth and development, requiring special care and protection. In view of this, a nurturing and secure environment is vital during child development in order to achieve positive emotional, cognitive and psychological developmental outcomes (Swopes et al., 2013; McDonald et al., 2006). Growing environments riddled with fear and violence stymies optimal growth and development, and are likely to result in adverse effects among affected children (Kohl et al, 2005). Within this context, the detrimental impacts of domestic violence on children can be ameliorated if these effects are appropriately identified and addressed. Literature Review Domestic violence refers to the abuse behaviour that one intimate partner uses to dominate and/or control the other partner (McDonald et al., 2006). On the other hand, child abuse refers to psychological, physical, emotional, social and sexual exploitation of children (Kohl et al., 2005). Domestic violence threatens children’s need for consistency and predictability in the sense that it disrupts normal routines. Children living with domestic violence also experience the distress being experienced by abused parent. Accordingly, these children experience psychological and emotional distress that is detrimental to their normal growth (Howell, Miller & Graham-Bermann, 2012). A review of literature has revealed the following as cross-cutting effects of domestic violence on children: Emotional, Social and Behavioral Problems Children who are generally exposed to domestic violence exhibit significant emotional and behavioral problems than children living in safe environments. Research findings indicate that children exposed to domestic violence have a higher risk of exhibiting antisocial and aggressive behavior compared to other children living in stable families (Howell, Miller & Graham-Bermann, 2012). In addition to these effects, children experiencing domestic violence experience incidences of anxiety and depression out of fear (Kohl et al., 2005). Furthermore, children exposed to domestic violence are more disobedient and defiant, exhibiting manifestations of hostility and anger (Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Conversely, the emotional, social and behavioral problems exhibited by children exposed to domestic violence vary from one child to the next. Children react differently to the violence they are experiencing or witnessing in their homes. While some children become more anti-social and aggressive, others will manifest high rates of anxiety, depression and withdrawal (Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Low-esteem has also been identified as one of the effects of domestic violence on children. Due to low-esteem, affected children have difficulties in forming and maintaining social relationships with siblings and peers (Swopes et al., 2013). Attitudinal and Cognitive Problems Attitudinal problems among children experiencing domestic violence have been studied in terms of pro-violence attitudes. Children who experience domestic violence during their developmental stages may end up as perpetrators or victims of domestic violence when they form intimate relations. In this case, male children may end up as aggressors while female children may end up as victims of domestic violence (Swopes et al., 2013; Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Other children may develop rigid gender stereotypes that may affect their future relationships and attitudes about the opposite gender. For instance, may consider violence as the only way to resolve conflicts (Howell, Miller & Graham-Bermann, 2012; Kohl et al., 2005). In relation to cognitive problems, researchers have studying the impact of domestic violence with regard to children’s performance in school. Research findings indicate that exposure to domestic violence affects children’s cognitive abilities (Letourneau et al., 2013; Howell, Miller & Graham-Bermann, 2012). Affected children often score lower grades in verbal, cognitive and motor skills. Children’s performance at school is usually affected by the distracting effect of the ongoing violence at home. School performance may also be affected by loss of school days when children are transferred to foster homes or when they relocate to new residential areas (Howell, Miller & Graham-Bermann, 2012). The Link between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Both domestic violence and child sexual abuse have been found to occur concurrently within family settings. Children living in families where domestic violence is a commonplace place phenomenon are at a greater risk of sexual abuse than those who live in stable families (McDonald et al., 2006). Both domestic violence and child sexual abuse are based on notions of power and control. Male partners, as the main perpetrators of domestic violence, use physical, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial abuse to gain and maintain control over the women. Child sexual abuse also forms as a means of gaining control and power over the abused children to the extent that the abused children become so afraid to disclose the abuse (Swopes et al., 2013). Child sexual abuse can serve as one of the forms of domestic violence, especially where the offender (male partner) use children as conduits through which they can abuse women. Once children become directly involved in the violence, the abused woman is forced to conceal the abuse in order to protect her child (Kohl et al., 2005). Therefore, men will sexually assault their daughters as a means of retaliating against their partners. Such an action creates fear and intimidates the abused partner to a point that she cannot recount her experiences to authorities or other social welfare groups (Swopes et al., 2013). Domestic violence incapacitates women in some and thus predisposes children to sexual abuse. As perpetrators of domestic violence, some men may resort to domestic violence so as to isolate the child from a mother’s protection (Letourneau et al., 2013). Despite the identified impacts of domestic violence on children’s well-being, not all children exhibit the negative effects of domestic violence. Some of the children exposed to and experiencing domestic violence exhibit difficulties in adjusting while others demonstrate significant resiliency (McDonald et al., 2006). Several factors have been attributed to the distinctive manner in which children react to domestic violence. To begin with, protective and supportive factors play a crucial role in protecting children from the detrimental effects of domestic violence. For instance, a protective attachment to an adult (particularly a non-abusive parent) helps children to cope with and develop resilience against domestic violence (Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Secondly, the nature of the domestic violence determines the extent of reaction among affected children. Children who are exposed to continuous and long-term violence at home are at a higher risk of experiencing distress than those witnessing fewer incidences of domestic violence. Furthermore, those children who fail to see their parents resolving the conflict are more affected that those who observe reconciliation and positive interactions between their parents (Kohl et al., 2005). Thirdly, elapsed time after witnessing violence affects children’s reaction to domestic violence. Children will normally exhibit fear and anxiety immediately after exposure to domestic violence. Fear and anxiety are reinforced if the violence continues but diminishes as the frequency of violence decreases (Swopes et al., 2013). Fourthly, younger children are at a greater risk of manifesting psychological and emotional distress as a result of exposure to domestic violence (Kohl et al., 2005). Age-related differences may be attributed to the fact that older children are mature enough to comprehend the nature of domestic violence hence adapt and develop coping strategies against domestic violence compared to the younger children who cannot comprehend the situation (Swopes et al., 2013). In relation to gender, boys will react violently and manifest anti-social behavior (externalized behaviour) as a consequence of domestic violence. In contrast, girls will be more withdrawn and experience depression (internalized behavior) as a reaction to domestic violence (Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Fifthly, the reaction of children to domestic violence varies depending on whether domestic violence co-exists with sexual abuse in the family. Children who are exposed and experience both domestic violence and sexual abuse are more vulnerable to psychological and emotional distress than those who are exposed to small-scale domestic violence and are not sexually abused (Swopes et al., 2013). Finally, effects of domestic violence differ among children depending on the co-occurrence between domestic violence and physical abuse. Children who experience both domestic violence and physical abuse are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse psychological and emotional distress than those in contrasting settings (Kohl et al., 2005). Discussion Even though children are not the direct targets of domestic violence, research findings indicate that children are indirectly harmed by witnessing and experiencing domestic violence. The evidence reviewed in this analysis has been generated from studied that explored diverse perspectives of domestic violence and its effects on children. Most of the studies have explored domestic violence in relation to children’s social, psychological, emotional, cognitive and behavioral development (Letourneau et al., 2013; Swopes et al., 2013; Graham-Bermann et al., 2009). Swopes et al. (2013) has paid particular focus on the correlation between domestic violence and child sexual abuse. In spite of the different viewpoints adopted by the researchers, evidence from the studies has indicated that domestic violence affects children in diverse and distinct ways. Domestic violence has emerged as one of the devastating social dilemmas affecting every portion of the population in distinct ways. A majority of families dealing with domestic violence often come into contact child welfare system, especially during divorce and child custody (Kohl et al., 2005). Co-occurring child abuse and domestic violence increases cumulative risk for affected families, and children living in these families are more likely to end up in the custody of foster families (McDonald et al., 2006; Kohl et al., 2005; Swopes et al., 2013). To that effect, professionals within the child welfare system and other care providers carry the added responsibility of understanding the effects of domestic violence and children’s well-being. References Graham-Bermann, S. A., Gruber, G., Howell, K. H., & Girz, L. (2009). Factors discriminating among profiles of resilience and psychopathology in children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Child Abuse and Negligence, 33(9), 648-660. Howell, K. H., Miller, L. E., & Graham-Bermann, S. A. (2012). Evaluating preschool children’s attitudes and beliefs about intimate partner violence. Violence Victims, 27(6), 941-956. Kohl, P., Edleson, J. L., English, D. J., & Barth, R. P. (2005). Domestic violence and pathways into child welfare services: Findings from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Child and Youth Services Review, 27(11), 1167-1182. Letourneau, N., Morris, C. Y., Secco, L., Stewrt, M., Hughes, J., & Crichley, K. (2013). Mothers and infants exposed to intimate partner violence compensate. Violence Victims, 28(4), 571-586. McDonald, R., Jouriles, N. E., Ramisetty-Mikler, S., Caetano, R., & Green, E. C. (2006). Estimating the number of American children living in partner-violent families. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(1), 137-142. Swopes, R. M., Simonet, D. V., Jaffe, A. E., Tett, R. P., & Davis, J. L. (2013). Adverse childhood experiences, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and emotional intelligence in partner aggression. Violence Victims, 28(3), 513-530. Read More