Community-based domestic violence project serving Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Monroe Counties in southeast West Virginia
Family Refuge Center
117 E. Washington Street
P. O. Box 249
Lewisburg, WV 24901
304-645-6334
Pocahontas County dial:
799-4400
Monroe County dial:
772-5005
Contact
Domestic Violence and Children

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Definition of Domestic Violence:     A pattern of coercive behavior which may include physical and sexual violence, threats, insults and economic deprivation which is aimed at gaining and then maintaining power and control over the body, mind, lifestyle and behavior of a partner.

Children are faced with the overwhelming task of finding;
  • a sense of trust with the untrustworthy
  • safety in a situation which is unsafe
  • control in a terrifying and unpredictable environment.

 

Children Living in Violent Households

WAYS OF BEING DRAWN IN
EFFECTS OF ABUSE
0-1 YEAR OLDS
  • Seeing it
  • Hearing it
  • Being awakened by it
  • Being injured by it
  • Being ripped from mother's arms
  • Having toys broken
  • Being born prematurely
  • Being hit while in mom's arms
  • Being thrown
  • Physical injury
  • Death
  • Fright
  • Being traumatized by it
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Eating disturbances
  • Being colicky or sick
  • Insecurity because of being cared for by a traumatized mom
  • Not responsive or cuddly
2-4 YEAR OLDS
  • Seeing it
  • Hearing it
  • Trying to stop altercation
  • Becoming abused themselves
  • Being used as a physical weapon against the victim
  • Being interrogated by perpetrator about victims activities
  • Being held hostage by perpetrator
  • Acting out violently
  • Withdrawal
  • Trouble with other kids
  • Delayed toileting
  • Eating problems
  • Nervous, jumpy
  • Sleep problems
  • Insecurity, fear and Depression
5-12 YEAR OLDS
  • Seeing & hearing it
  • Picking 1 parent to defend
  • Physically intervening
  • Calling the police
  • Running to neighbors for help
  • Being used as a spy against Mom
  • Forced to participate in attack on Mom
  • Being physically or sexually abused to control Mom
  • Being restricted from contact with others
  • Fear & insecurity
  • Low self esteem
  • Withdrawal/depression
  • Running away
  • Early drug/alcohol use
  • School problems
  • Bedwetting
  • Sexual activity
  • Becoming caretaker of adults
  • Being embarrassed by one's family

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EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ON OLDER CHILDREN

TEENS (BOYS & GIRLS)
  • Killing/trying to kill perpetrator
  • Trying to stop the abuse
  • Hitting parent or siblings
  • Becoming physically abused
  • Being used as a spy
  • Being used as a confidante
  • Being coerced by perpetrator to be abusive to mom
  • School problems
  • Social problems
  • Sexual activity
  • Shamed & embarrassed
  • Truancy
  • Superachiever at school
  • Tendency to get serious relationships too early to escape home
  • Depression
  • Suicide
  • Alcohol/drug use
  • Confusion about gender roles
 
EFFECTS SPECIFIC TO BOYS ONLY
EFFECTS SPECIFIC TO GIRLS ONLY
  • Learning that males are violent
  • Learning to disrespect women
  • Using violence in his own relationships
  • Confusion or insecurity about being a man
  • Attacking parents or siblings
  • Learning that male violence is normal
  • Learning that women don't get respect
  • Accepting violence in her own relationships
  • Embarrassed about being female
  • Becoming pregnant

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HEALTH STATISTICS

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

  1. 8 million women are physically, sexually, or emotionally abused annually in the U.S. (AMA)

  2. Battering is the #1 cause of injury to women in the U.S. It accounts for more injury to women than rapes, muggings, and car accidents combined. (AMA)

  3. 50% of all women seen in medical practices in the U.S. will receive at least 1 serious beating from a partner or spouse in her lifetime. (AMA)

  4. The average victim of DV will be physically abused 3 times per year. (AMA)

  5. The National Crime Survey reports that DV is associated with: 30,000 ER visits, 40,000 physician visits, 21,000 hospitalizations, and more than 100,000 days of hospitalization time per year (Moss & Taylor)

  6. The total annual health care costs of DV are estimated at $44,393,700.00 (Moss & Taylor)

  7. 20-45% of all injuries seen in ERs are the result of DV (Flitcraft)

  8. 2/3 of all women who are murdered die as a result of DV (Flitcraft)

  9. Battered women are given 3 times more psychotropic meds, pain pills, and tranquilizers than their non-battered counterparts (Moss & Taylor)

  10. Of battered women who seek medical treatment, only 1 in 10 is identified as a battered woman by the ER physician/nurse. For primary care clinics, the number stands at 1 in 20 (Sassetti)

  11. Only 1 in 25 women who are battered seek medical treatment immediately following a violence incident (Sassetti)

  12. 25-45% of all women who are battered are battered during pregnancy (March of Dimes)

  13. In 1995, on average, 2.3 victims were murdered per month in WV. The total number of shelter nights provided in WV that year was 18,665 (WVCADV)

  14. These figures are markedly low & do not provide accurate statistics.

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Community-based domestic violence project serving Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Monroe Counties in southeast West Virginia Family Refuge Center
117 E. Washington Street
P. O. Box 249
Lewisburg, WV 24901
304-645-6334
Pocahontas County dial: 799-4400
Monroe County dial: 772-5005
frc@wvdsl.net
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Please call or write if you need total secrecy

Thank you for your time.

This page has been accessed times since July 31, 2000.

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This page was created Nov 30,1997
By Michael Condon
Last Update: Oct. 7, 2008
If you have any questions or comments about this page, send e-mail.