Addressing Domestic Violence in Child Welfare Practice

Unit Two: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children

 After reviewing this unit, students will be able to:

• Identify the types of problems associated with children’s exposure to domestic violence
• Identify symptoms that children who have been exposed to domestic violence may experience
• Understand that children’s reactions to exposure varies and that some children do not exhibit negative effects

Subunits

• Emotional and Behavioral Problems
• Moderating Variables
• Vignettes

Emotional and Behavioral Problems

There is mounting evidence that children exposed to domestic violence are at risk for emotional and behavioral problems (Fantuzzo & Lindquist, 1989; Jaffe, Wolfe &Wilson, 1990). Child distress has been found to be greater where children have both witnessed marital violence and been physically abused (Carlson, 1996). Research suggests that while adults often believe that they have protected their children from exposure to domestic violence, most children can give detailed descriptions of the violence experienced in their families In a review of the research, Edleson (1999) identifies the following problems associated with children’s witnessing of domestic violence:

• Psychological and emotional problems such as aggression, hostility, anxiety, social withdrawal, and depression.
• Cognitive functioning problems such as lower verbal and quantitative skills and the development of attitudes supporting the use of violence.
• Longer-term development problems such as depression, trauma-related symptoms and low self-esteem among women; trauma-related symptoms alone among men.

Possible Symptoms in Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Moderating Variables

It should not be assumed that exposure to adult domestic violence in itself constitutes maltreatment or that it will have long-term negative effects upon a child’s development. Moderating variables such as the age, gender, developmental stage and the child’s ability to cope can determine the extent to which exposure has been harmful (Edleson, 1999; National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 2002). In fact a significant number of children in the studies reviewed by Edleson (1999) showed no negative consequences. The symptoms listed above can occur when there has been exposure to a range of traumatic events, not only domestic violence.

Vignettes

The following stories were drawn from a domestic violence curriculum developed by Ganley & Schechter (1996). For each of these stories, think about the kinds of abuse taking place and the possible effects on the children.

Annette

The kids were carrying a dreadful secret. If they talked, they would lose their dad, and they would be responsible for “breaking up” the family. If they didn’t talk, they felt like they were taking part in my abuse. The kids were torn to pieces by the time we left him. And even that didn’t end it. Every time he had visitation, he’d grill them about me. He’d coach them on things he wanted them to say to me, and then they’d have to decide: “Should I say it or not?” He tried to turn them into weapons in his war on me”.

Jocelyn

One morning after my husband left for work, my sons were in the room and as I cleaned the kitchen, I realized that they were role-playing one of our fights. My youngest called his brother a “rotten whore” and I wanted to die. Over the years the imitation continued. The older one wanted to beat up his dad for me and tried on a few occasions. But the younger one walked around the house calling me a fat pig. Eventually he started to hit me. That was too much. It opened my eyes. I wouldn’t tolerate this behavior from an eight year old, so why was I tolerating it from my husband? I realized that my kids were growing up with a totally distorted image of what a family is, what a normal mom is, what a normal dad is, what love is. They’d already learned to disrespect women-to disrespect me.