How Does Domestic Violence Affect Children

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Domestic Violence is known to be a pattern of assaultive behaviors including physical, sexual, psychological attacks and economic coercion, by adults and juveniles against their families or intimate partner or both. Family violence is the most common especially within marriages and it can affect the whole family and children who live in a home where abuse occurs are always affected by it. Studies show that between 3.3 million and 10 million children witness domestic violence annually. As a child, the surroundings around them really do shape and make impact on their personality, mentality and actions that they make. When a child is exposed to domestic violence, it can affect their growth and affect the type of person they will be for their future. So when a child is witnessing such type of behavior, it can and usually does, have many consequences emotionally, mentally, and physically.
For instance, children can become emotionally abused by being verbally abused, having hurtful comments directed to them, …show more content…

Some might even develop panic attacks and are also at risk for developmental delays, psychiatric disorders, school difficulties, aggressive behavior, and low self-esteem. While being exposed to a traumatic experience can trigger mental health problems, living with a severe mental illness is likely to increase the vulnerability of a person being abused. Some examples of long term mental illnesses are dissociation which refers to feeling like one has “checked out” or is not present. In some instances of dissociation, people may find themselves daydreaming. But in situations where dissociation is chronic and more complex it may impair an individual 's ability to function in the “real” world, such as not being able to focus on work related duties or being able to concentrate on