The exposure of adolescents to domestic violence has sparked debate and invoked studies that seek to unearth the effects of this violence on adolescents. Literature reveals that increase cases of domestic violence and child abuse pose a great risk to the later development of a child. Evidence reveals relationship between child exposure to violence and subsequent internalization and externalization of the outcomes in future life of the child. It is however important to note that while differences seem to show up in the outcome of these dual effects(effects of domestic violence and child abuse) these two differences where are not statistically significant.Calson (1984) claims over three million children are exposed to either domestic violence or child abuse. This number has however been growing day in, day out. United department of health records reveals that over 9million children are exposed …show more content…
This is an estimated over 53% husband –wife assaults with male assaulting females more than female counterparts. Reported cases of sexual violence, domestic violence and general child abuse suggest that, violence has become a public matter that need to be solved.
According to McKay, (1994) increased exposure to all types of violence creates the need to investigate the emotional, cognitive and behavioral consequences caused by these exposures. Holden (1998). claims that exposure to severe cases of domestic and other forms of violence may cause traumatic stress that may have long term or short-term effects or both.
According to Schechter and Edleson (1999) exposure to violence may create low self-esteem, withdrawal, depression and anxiety to adolescences Hughes (1988) further investigated the level of effects of exposure to domestic violence and the rate of internalizing and externalizing such effects and found that there exist moderate