The Facts on Children and Domestic
Violence
·
15.5 million U.S. children live in
families in which partner violence
occurred at least once in the past year,
and seven million children live in
families in which severe partner
violence occurred.
·
The majority of
U.S. nonfatal intimate partner
victimizations of women (two-thirds)
occur at home.
Children are residents of the households
experiencing intimate partner violence
in 43 percent of incidents involving
female victims.
·
In a single day in 2007, 13,485 children
were living in a domestic violence
shelter or transitional housing
facility. Another 5,526 sought services
at a non-residential program.
·
The UN Secretary-General’s Study on
Violence Against Children conservatively
estimates that 275 million children
worldwide are exposed to violence in the
home.
Domestic Violence Affects Children
·
A Michigan study of low-income pre-schoolers
finds that children who have been
exposed to family violence suffer
symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder, such as bed-wetting or
nightmares, and are at greater risk than
their peers of having allergies, asthma,
gastrointestinal problems, headaches and
flu.
·
Children of mothers who experience
prenatal physical domestic violence are
at an increased risk of exhibiting
aggressive, anxious, depressed or
hyperactive behavior.
·
Females who are exposed to their
parents’ domestic violence as
adolescents are significantly more
likely to become victims of dating
violence than daughters of nonviolent
parents.
·
Children who experience childhood
trauma, including witnessing incidents
of domestic violence, are at a greater
risk of having serious adult health
problems including tobacco use,
substance abuse, obesity, cancer, heart
disease, depression and a higher risk
for unintended pregnancy.
·
Physical abuse during childhood
increases the risk of future
victimization among women and the risk
of future perpetration of abuse by men
more than two-fold.
What Helps Children Exposed to Violence
·
Psychotherapy designed for mothers and
children together can increase the
quality of parenting and increase
positive
outcomes for children.
·
Many abusive men are concerned about the
effect of violence on their children and
the children of their partners. Some
may be motivated to stop using violence
if they understand the devastating
effects on their children.
·
A safe, stable and nurturing
relationship with a caring adult can
help a child overcome the stress
associated with intimate partner
violence.
