Maricopa Association of Governments

Domestic Violence and Children

Some children see the violence, while others hear screams, the breaking of glass and furniture, and crying. The children always see the aftermath of the violence: the blood, the bruises and broken bones.

A survey of over 6,000 American families found that 50% of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.

Seventy-five percent of women who are battered in this country have children living at home.

It is estimated that between 3.3 million and 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year and that this exposure can have significant negative effects on children's emotional, social, and cognitive development. These effects may include:

• Aggressive behavior and other conduct problems
• Depression and anxiety
• Poor academic performance
• Symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as emotional numbing, increased arousal, and repeated focus on the violent event.

Increased Risk of Child Abuse

When a batterer senses that a woman may leave him, he may abuse the children to gain additional control over the victim.

Pregnancy is often an indicator of increased incidents of violence. The developing fetus is placed in jeopardy during these prenatal attacks. A study of 1,200 women found that one in six reported physical abuse during pregnancy. However, some women have reported that they are less likely to be battered when they are pregnant with the abuser's child.

• Men who batter their wives are likely to assault their children. Usually the women are battered first, and the child abuse starts later.
• The more severe the abuse of the mother, the worse the child abuse.
• Where the mother is assaulted by the father, daughters are exposed to a risk of sexual abuse 6.5 times greater than girls in non-abusive families.
• Up to 50% of all homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence.
   

Resources

• Childhelp USA: 1-800-422-4453
  National child abuse hotline. Offers crisis intervention, information, literature and referrals. State-of-the-art technology provides translators in approximately 140 languages.
• Child Protective Services: 1-888-767-2445
  Arizona child abuse hotline.

Recommended Reading

• Domestic Violence Safety Plan (English) (Spanish)
• Building Healthy Relationships: A Guide for Teens (English and Spanish)
• Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Brochure
• Safety for Kids Coloring Book (English) (Spanish)

Davidson H. The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children. Washington, DC: American Bar Association, 1994.

Jaffe, P.G., Wolfe, D.A. and Wilson, S.K. Children of Battered Women. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1990.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice. Reno, NV: NCJFCJ, 1999.

The Future of Children. Domestic Violence and Children. (Winter, 1999) 9,3.