How does domestic violence affect a child

Effects of domestic violence on children

Many children exposed to violence in the home are also victims of physical abuse.¹ Children who witness domestic violence or are victims of abuse themselves are at serious risk for long-term physical and mental health problems.² Children who witness violence between parents may also be at greater risk of being violent in their future relationships. If you are a parent who is experiencing abuse, it can be difficult to know how to protect your child.

What are the short-term effects of domestic violence or abuse on children?

Children in homes where one parent is abused may feel fearful and anxious. They may always be on guard, wondering when the next violent event will happen.³ This can cause them to react in different ways, depending on their age:

Children in preschool. Young children who witness intimate partner violence may start doing things they used to do when they were younger, such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, increased crying, and whining. They may also develop difficulty falling or staying asleep; show signs of terror, such as stuttering or hiding; and show signs of severe separation anxiety.
School-aged children. Children in this age range may feel guilty about the abuse and blame themselves for it. Domestic violence and abuse hurts children’s self-esteem. They may not participate in school activities or get good grades, have fewer friends than others, and get into trouble more often. They also may have a lot of headaches and stomachaches.
Teens. Teens who witness abuse may act out in negative ways, such as fighting with family members or skipping school. They may also engage in risky behaviors, such as having unprotected sex and using alcohol or drugs. They may have low self-esteem and have trouble making friends. They may start fights or bully others and are more likely to get in trouble with the law. This type of behavior is more common in teen boys who are abused in childhood than in teen girls. Girls are more likely than boys to be withdrawn and to experience depression.⁴

What are the long-term effects of domestic violence or abuse on children?

More than 15 million children in the United States live in homes in which domestic violence has happened at least once.⁵ These children are at greater risk for repeating the cycle as adults by entering into abusive relationships or becoming abusers themselves. For example, a boy who sees his mother being abused is 10 times more likely to abuse his female partner as an adult. A girl who grows up in a home where her father abuses her mother is more than six times as likely to be sexually abused as a girl who grows up in a non-abusive home.⁶

Children who witness or are victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are at higher risk for health problems as adults. These can include mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. They may also include diabetes, obesity, heart disease, poor self-esteem, and other problems. ⁷

Can children recover from witnessing or experiencing domestic violence or abuse?

Each child responds differently to abuse and trauma. Some children are more resilient, and some are more sensitive. How successful a child is at recovering from abuse or trauma depends on several things, including having:⁸

A good support system or good relationships with trusted adults
High self-esteem
Healthy friendships

Although children will probably never forget what they saw or experienced during the abuse, they can learn healthy ways to deal with their emotions and memories as they mature. The sooner a child gets help, the better his or her chances for becoming a mentally and physically healthy adult.

How can I help my children recover after witnessing or experiencing domestic violence?

You can help your children by:

Helping them feel safe. Children who witness or experience domestic violence need to feel safe. ⁹ Consider whether leaving the abusive relationship might help your child feel safer. Talk to your child about the importance of healthy relationships.
Talking to them about their fears. Let them know that it’s not their fault or your fault. Learn more about how to listen and talk to your child about domestic violence (PDF, 229 KB).
Talking to them about healthy relationships. Help them learn from the abusive experience by talking about what healthy relationships are and are not. This will help them know what is healthy when they start romantic relationships of their own.
Talking to them about boundaries. Let your child know that no one has the right to touch them or make them feel uncomfortable, including family members, teachers, coaches, or other authority figures. Also, explain to your child that he or she doesn’t have the right to touch another person’s body, and if someone tells them to stop, they should do so right away.
Helping them find a reliable support system. In addition to a parent, this can be a school counselor, a therapist, or another trusted adult who can provide ongoing support. Know that school counselors are required to report domestic violence or abuse if they suspect it.

Getting them professional help. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy or counseling that may work best for children who have experienced violence or abuse.¹⁰ CBT is especially helpful for children who have anxiety or other mental health problems as a result of the trauma.¹¹ During CBT, a therapist will work with your child to turn negative thoughts into more positive ones. The therapist can also help your child learn healthy ways to cope with stress.¹²

Your doctor can recommend a mental health professional who works with children who have been exposed to violence or abuse. Many shelters and domestic violence organizations also have support groups for kids. ¹³ These groups can help children by letting them know they are not alone and helping them process their experiences in a nonjudgmental place.¹⁴

Is it better to stay in an abusive relationship rather than raise my children as a single parent?

Children do best in a safe, stable, loving environment, whether that’s with one parent or two. You may think that your kids won’t be negatively affected by the abuse if they never see it happen. But children can also hear abuse, such as screaming and the sounds of hitting. They can also sense tension and fear. Even if your kids don’t see you being abused, they can be negatively affected by the violence they know is happening.

If you decide to leave an abusive relationship, you may be helping your children feel safer and making them less likely to tolerate abuse as they get older.¹⁵ If you decide not to leave, you can still take steps to protect your children and yourself.

How can I make myself and my children safe right now if I’m not ready to leave an abuser?

Your safety and the safety of your children are the biggest priorities. If you are not yet ready or willing to leave an abusive relationship, you can take steps to help yourself and your children now, including:¹⁶

Making a safety plan for you and your child
Listening and talking to your child and letting them know that abuse is not OK and is not their fault
Reaching out to a domestic violence support person who can help you learn your options

If you are thinking about leaving an abusive relationship, you may want to keep quiet about it in front of your children. Young children may not be able to keep a secret from an adult in their life. Children may say something about your plan to leave without realizing it. If it would be unsafe for an abusive partner to know ahead of time you’re planning to leave, talk only to trusted adults about your plan. It’s better for you and your children to be physically safe than for your children to know ahead of time that you will be leaving.

Did we answer your question about the effects of domestic violence on children?

For more information about the effects of domestic violence on children, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out the following resources from other organizations:

About the Issue: What is child abuse? — Fact sheet from the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Behind Closed Doors: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children (PDF, 1.8 M) — Publication from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Child Abuse — Information from KidsHealth.org.
Childhood Domestic Violence — Information from the Childhood Domestic Violence Association.
Help for Families — Information about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families from the Office of Family Assistance.
Safety for Parents — Information from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) for parents about getting a child to safety.
Help for Parents of Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused by Family Members — Information from RAINN.

Sources

Modi, M.N., Palmer, S., Armstrong, A. (2014). The Role of Violence Against Women Act in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: A Public Health Issue. Journal of Women’s Health; 23(3): 253-259.
Gilbert, L.K., Breiding, M.J., Merrick, M.T., Parks, S.E., Thompson, W. W., Dhingra, S.S., Ford, D.C. (2015). Childhood Adversity and Adult Chronic Disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010. American Journal of Preventive Medicine; 48(3): 345-349.
Domestic Violence Roundtable. (n.d.). The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children.
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Domestic Violence and the Child Welfare System. Washington, DC: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
McDonald, R., Jouriles, E.N., Ramisetty-Mikler, S., Caetano, R., Green, C.E. (2006). ). Estimating the Number of American Children Living in Partner-Violent Families. Journal of Family Psychology; 20(1): 137-142.
Vargas, L. Cataldo, J., Dickson, S. (2005). Domestic Violence and Children. In G.R. Walz & R.K. Yep (Eds.), VISTAS: Compelling Perspectives on Counseling. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association; 67-69.
Monnat, S.M., Chandler, R. F. (2015), Long Term Physical Health Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The Sociologist Quarterly; 56(4): 723-752.
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare. Washington, DC: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (n.d.). Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Core Principles.

Caffo, E., Belaise, C. (2003). Psychological aspects of traumatic injury in children and adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America; 12(3): 493-535.
Deblinger, E., Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., & Steer, R. A. (2006). A follow-up study of a multisite, randomized, controlled trial for children with sexual abuse-related PTSD symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 45(12): 1474-84.
Kidshealth.org. (2013). Taking Your Child to a Therapist.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (n.d.). Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Core Principles.
Vargas, L., Cataldo, J., Dickson, S. (2005). Domestic Violence and Children. In Walz, G.R., Yep, R.K. (Eds.), VISTAS: Compelling Perspectives on Counseling. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association; 67-69.
Center for Domestic Peace. (2016). Calling the Police.
Loveisrespect.org (n.d.). I Have Children with My Abuser.

The Office on Women's Health is grateful for the medical review by:

Kathleen C. Basile, Ph.D., Lead Behavioral Scientist, Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Kathryn Jones, M.S.W., Public Health Advisor, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Sharon G. Smith, Ph.D., Behavioral Scientist, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Staff

All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and maybe copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: February 15, 2021

Impact of Domestic Violence - Child Welfare Information Gateway

Domestic violence has a demonstrable, long-term impact on adult victims as well as children who witness violence. Children and youth who are exposed to domestic violence experience emotional, mental, and social damage that can affect their developmental growth. It also has adverse effects on the community at large. To respond to the overwhelming issues associated with domestic violence, child welfare professionals must understand these issues and know how to identify them as well as assess and respond to those affected by domestic violence. The following resources offer information to child welfare professionals on the importance of addressing the impact domestic violence has on children, victims, and the community.

Impact on victims and the community

Alarming Effects of Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence
Edwards (2019)
Psychology Today
Discusses the psychological impacts of domestic violence, including fear of abandonment, worry or sadness, guilt, the inability to experience empathy, lying, emotional distancing, shame, and fear of the future.

The Brain Architects Podcast: COVID-19 Special Edition: Domestic Violence and Shelter-In-Place
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2021)
Reviews practical steps for families and children to keep them safe and strategies others can use if they think someone they know may be experiencing domestic violence.

Series Title

State Statutes

Author(s)

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Availability

View
Download (PDF - 328KB)

Year Published

2021

Discusses laws that extend legal protection to children who may be harmed by witnessing acts of domestic violence in their homes. The issues examined include the circumstances that constitute "witnessing" domestic violence and the legal consequence to persons who commit the domestic violence, such as enhanced penalties and fines. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law.

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health (2019)
Presents information about the impact of domestic violence on children, including those who witness domestic violence. The information covers the short- and long-term effects, how children can recover, how to help children who have witnessed domestic violence, abusive relationships, and safety.

Fostering Resilience in Children Traumatized by Domestic Violence in Collaboration With Their Non-Offending Parent [Webinar]
Johnson, Hill, & Packard (2019)
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
Presents slides from a webinar on the consequences for children who have been traumatized by witnessing violence against a parent or caregiver. The webinar considers ways to recognize how this trauma affects children and offers methods to support healing and building resiliency for children and their parent(s).

How COVID-19 May Increase Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
Abramson (2020)
American Psychological Association
Discusses the possibility of an increased risk of domestic violence and child abuse during the pandemic and how stress may cause some homes to become unsafe even though they have no previous history of violence.

Intimate Partner Violence: Effects
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Provides information on the effects of children's exposure to intimate partner violence, including short- and long-term effects and trauma reactions by age group.

Updated Comprehensive Review of Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (PDF - 1,170 KB)
Chamberlain (2018)
Futures Without Violence
Offers a web-based repository of interventions and resources on responding to children's exposure to domestic violence. The report overviews 45 interventions that serve children and families starting on page 16 of the document.

Violence Prevention Research
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention
Discusses the negative effects that witnessing domestic violence can have on children, including physical and mental health consequences and other long-term effects.

What Is the Impact of Childhood Domestic Violence?
Childhood Domestic Violence Association
Describes the impacts of childhood exposure to domestic violence and how experiencing violence can negatively affect a developing brain. The resource addresses the impact to physical health, mental health, behavior, and relationships later in life.

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Child abuse

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Child abuse

WHO/S. Becker

Magnitude of the problem

\nChild maltreatment is a global problem with serious life-long consequences. Although studies have recently been carried out in some low- and middle-income countries, much data is still lacking.

\nChild maltreatment is a complex and difficult issue to study. Available estimates vary widely depending on the country and the research method used. Grades depend on the following aspects:

applicable definitions of child abuse;\t
type of child abuse being studied;
statistical coverage and quality of official statistics;
coverage and quality of surveys that require reports from victims themselves, parents or caregivers.

\nHowever, international studies show that one quarter of all adults were physically abused as children, and that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men were sexually abused as children. In addition, many children are victims of emotional (psychological) abuse and neglect.

\nAn estimated 41,000 murders of children under the age of 15 occur each year. This figure underestimates the true extent of the problem, as a significant proportion of child abuse deaths are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning, and other causes.

\nIn armed conflict and refugee camps, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse by the military, security forces, other members of their communities, humanitarian workers and others.

Consequences of child abuse

\nChild abuse hurts children and families and can have long-term consequences. Abuse leads to stress, which is associated with impaired early brain development. Extreme stress can disrupt the development of the nervous and immune systems. As a result, in adulthood, people who were abused as children are at increased risk of behavioral and physical and mental health problems, such as:

committing or being a victim of violence;\t
depression;
smoking;
obesity;\n
high risk sexual behavior;
unplanned pregnancy;
Harmful use of alcohol and drugs.

\nAs a result of these behavioral and mental health consequences, abuse can lead to heart disease, cancer, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections.

\nIn addition to the health and societal impacts, child maltreatment also has economic impacts, including hospitalization costs, mental health care, child care, and long-term health costs.

Risk factors

\nRisk factors for child abuse have been identified. These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural settings, but they give a general idea when trying to understand the causes of child abuse.

Child

\nIt is important to emphasize that children are victims and should never be blamed for abuse. Some individual characteristics of a child may increase the likelihood of abuse:

a child under 4 years of age or a teenager;\n
a child who is unwanted or does not live up to parental expectations;
a child who has special needs, who cries constantly, or who has abnormal physical features.

Parents or caregivers

\nSome characteristics of parents or caregivers may increase the risk of child abuse. Among them are the following:

difficulties associated with the newborn;\n
leaving the child without attention;
childhood abuse;
lack of knowledge about child development or unrealistic expectations;
harmful use of alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy;
involvement in criminal activity;
experiencing financial difficulties. \n

Relationships

\nA number of factors in relationships within families or between sexual partners, friends, and peers can increase the risk of child abuse, such as :

problems in the field of physical or mental health or development of any family member;\n
discord in the family or violence between other family members;
isolation in the community or lack of a supportive circle;
lack of support in raising a child from other family members.

Community and social factors

\nA number of characteristics of individual communities and communities can increase the risk of child abuse. They include:

gender and social inequality;
lack of adequate housing or family support services and institutions;
high levels of unemployment and poverty;
easy access to alcohol and drugs;
inappropriate policies and programs to prevent child abuse, child pornography, child prostitution, and child labor;\n
social and cultural norms that support or glorify violence against others, favor the use of corporal punishment, require strong gender roles or belittling the status of the child in the relationship between parents and children;
social, economic, health, and educational policies that lead to poor living standards or socioeconomic inequality or instability.

Prevention

\nPrevention of child abuse requires a multisectoral approach. Effective programs are those that support parents and instill positive parenting skills. They include:

Nursing home visits to parents and children for support, education and information;\n
Parent education, usually in groups, to improve child-rearing skills, increase knowledge of child development, and encourage positive treatment strategies with kids; and
multi-component activities, typically including parent support and education, early childhood education, and child care.

\nOther prevention programs are also promising in some respects.

Abuse Head Injury Prevention Programs (also called Shaken Baby Syndrome and Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury). These are usually hospital-level programs targeting young parents prior to their discharge, educating them about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome and recommending interventions for inconsolably crying babies.
Child sexual abuse prevention programs. They are usually held in schools and teach children about the following areas:

ownership of one's body;\t
the difference between good and bad touch;
how to recognize threatening situations;
how to say \"no\";
how to tell a trusted adult about abuse.

\nSuch programs are effective in increasing protective factors against child sexual abuse (for example, knowledge about sexual abuse and protective behaviors), but data on whether such programs reduce others types of violence are absent.

\nThe earlier in a child's life such interventions are carried out, the more beneficial they are for the child (eg, cognitive development, behavioral and social competence, educational training) and for society (eg, reduced delinquency and crime).

\nIn addition, early recognition of cases, combined with ongoing care for child victims of abuse and their families, can help reduce re-abuse and its consequences.

\nFor maximum impact, prevention and care interventions are recommended by WHO as part of a four-pronged public health approach:

identifying the problem;\n
identifying causes and risk factors;
development and testing of measures aimed at minimizing risk factors;
disseminate information on the effectiveness of interventions and scale up proven effective interventions.\n

WHO activities

\nWHO in collaboration with a number of partners in the following areas:

provides technical and normative guidance for evidence-based child abuse prevention;\n
calls for greater international support for and investment in evidence-based child abuse prevention region;
provides technical support for evidence-based child abuse prevention programs in certain low- and middle-income countries.

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Key facts

One in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report being sexually abused as children.
The consequences of child maltreatment include lifelong physical and mental health damage, and its social and professional consequences can ultimately slow down the economic and social development of a country.
Child maltreatment can be prevented - this requires a multisectoral approach.
Effective prevention programs can support parents and teach them positive parenting skills.
Continued care for children and families can help reduce the risk of re-abuse and minimize its consequences.

Child abuse is the mistreatment and neglect of children under the age of 18. It covers all types of physical and/or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, neglect and commercial or other exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the health, survival, development or dignity of the child in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. . Intimate partner violence is also sometimes considered a form of child abuse.

Magnitude of the problem

Child abuse is a global problem with serious lifelong consequences. Although studies have recently been carried out in some low- and middle-income countries, much data is still lacking.

Child abuse is a complex and difficult issue to study. Available estimates vary widely depending on the country and the research method used. Grades depend on the following aspects:

applicable definitions of child abuse;
type of child abuse being studied;
coverage and quality of official statistics;
coverage and quality of surveys that require reports from victims themselves, parents or caregivers.

However, international studies show that one quarter of all adults were physically abused as children, and that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men were sexually abused as children. In addition, many children are victims of emotional (psychological) abuse and neglect.

An estimated 41,000 murders of children under the age of 15 occur each year. This figure underestimates the true extent of the problem, as a significant proportion of child abuse deaths are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning, and other causes.

In armed conflict and refugee camps, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse by the military, security forces, other members of their communities, humanitarian workers and others.

Consequences of abuse

Child abuse causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. Abuse leads to stress, which is associated with impaired early brain development. Extreme stress can disrupt the development of the nervous and immune systems. As a result, in adulthood, people who were abused as children are at increased risk of behavioral and physical and mental health problems, such as:

committing violence or becoming a victim of violence;
depression;
smoking;
obesity;
high risk sexual behavior;
unplanned pregnancy;
harmful use of alcohol and drugs.

As a result of these behavioral and mental health consequences, abuse can lead to heart disease, cancer, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections.

In addition to health and societal impacts, child maltreatment also has economic impacts, including the cost of hospitalization, mental health treatment, child care, and long-term health costs.

Risk factors

Risk factors for child abuse have been identified. These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural settings, but they give a general idea when trying to understand the causes of child abuse.

Child

It is important to emphasize that children are victims and should never be blamed for abuse. Certain individual characteristics of a child may increase the likelihood of abuse:

child under 4 years of age or adolescent;
an unwanted child or a child that does not live up to the expectations of the parents;
a child with special needs, constant crying or abnormal physical features.

Parents or caregivers

Certain characteristics of parents or caregivers may increase the risk of child abuse. Among them are the following:

difficulties associated with the newborn;
leaving a child unattended;
childhood abuse;
ignorance of child development or unrealistic expectations;
harmful use of alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy;
involvement in criminal activity;
experiencing financial difficulties.

Relationships

A number of factors in family relationships or between sexual partners, friends and peers can increase the risk of child abuse, for example:

a family member's physical or mental health or developmental problems;
discord in the family or violence between other family members;
isolation in the community or lack of a support circle;
lack of support in raising a child from other family members.

Community and social factors

A number of characteristics of individual communities and communities can increase the risk of child abuse. They include:

gender and social inequality;
Lack of adequate housing or family support services and institutions;
high levels of unemployment and poverty;
easy access to alcohol and drugs;
inadequate policies and programs to prevent child abuse, child pornography, child prostitution and child labor;
social and cultural norms that support or glorify violence against others, favor the use of corporal punishment, require rigid gender roles, or degrade the status of the child in parent-child relationships;
social, economic, health and educational policies that lead to poor living standards or socioeconomic inequality or instability.

Prophylaxis

A multisectoral approach is needed to prevent child maltreatment. Effective programs are those that support parents and instill positive parenting skills. These include:

home visits by nurses to parents and children for support, education and information;
Parent education, usually in groups, to improve child-rearing skills, increase knowledge of child development, and encourage positive child-care strategies; and
multi-component activities, usually including parent support and education, early childhood education and childcare.

Other prevention programs are also promising in some respects.

Abuse head injury prevention programs (also called shaken baby syndrome and traumatic brain injury). These are usually hospital-level programs targeting young parents prior to their discharge, educating them about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome and recommending interventions for inconsolably crying babies.
Child sexual abuse prevention programs. They are usually held in schools and educate children in the following areas:

ownership of one's body;
difference between good and bad touches;
how to recognize threatening situations;
how to say "no";
how to talk about abuse to a trustworthy adult.

Such programs are effective in increasing protective factors against child sexual abuse (eg, knowledge about sexual abuse and protective behaviours), but there is no data on whether such programs reduce other types of violence.

The earlier in a child's life such interventions are, the more beneficial they are for the child (eg cognitive development, behavioral and social competence, educational training) and society (eg reduction in delinquency and crime).

In addition, early recognition of cases, combined with continued care for child victims of violence and families, can help reduce re-abuse and its consequences.

For maximum impact, prevention and care interventions are recommended by WHO as part of a four-step public health approach:

problem definition;
determination of causes and risk factors;
development and testing of measures aimed at minimizing risk factors;
disseminate information on the effectiveness of interventions and scale up proven effective interventions.

WHO activities

WHO is collaborating with a number of partners in the following areas:

provides evidence-based technical and normative guidance on child maltreatment prevention;
calls for increased international support for and investment in evidence-based child abuse prevention;
provides technical support for evidence-based child abuse prevention programs in selected low- and middle-income countries.

Psychological child abuse | State Institution "Lyakhovichi Territorial Center for Social Services to the Population"

People express negative emotions in relation to other persons in different ways. Someone simply speaks badly about some person behind his back, and someone chooses a harsher and more unpleasant method of influence - psychological violence. Statistics show that the victim most often is not an adult, but a child. Minors are subjected to psychological violence in schools, on the street, at home. This is a very serious problem, because because of it, children's emotional behavior and development are disturbed. They have fears.

What is psychological abuse?

Psychological violence is also called emotional. This term refers to the periodic or constant insult of the child with some unpleasant words, the humiliation of his human dignity, the utterance of threats. Often, parents have formed the desired image of children. To achieve it, mothers and fathers present their children with such requirements that they are not able to fulfill due to age opportunities. This also applies to psychological abuse.

Negative attitude towards a child has very serious consequences. He ceases to be happy. He begins to suffer from his own feelings. The child withdraws into himself, loses confidence in the people around him. In the future, all this leads to problems in building relationships. Another negative consequence is low self-esteem. For example, peers at school may call a child scary, stupid. With such thoughts about himself, he grows in the future.

Problem classification into forms

What can be considered psychological abuse of a child? Experts identify several forms of this problem. Here are the main ones:

Degradation. With this form, children or adults influence a particular child with rude words, curses, name-calling, ridicule in front of other people.
Ignore. This form of violence is most often observed on the part of adults - parents. They do not pay attention to their child, they are not interested in his successes and achievements. He does not feel affection, care, love. Naturally, such an attitude depresses the child.
Repulsion. This feature of behavior is manifested by the fact that parents push their child away, constantly drive him away, that is, they make it clear that they do not need him.
Terrorization. In this form of abuse, the child is constantly threatened by something. They threaten him, make demands that are impossible at this age stage.

In various books on education, articles on psychological abuse of children, special attention is paid to isolation. This is another form of the problem. Its essence lies in various prohibitions (for example, you can’t communicate with peers, go for a walk with them). Sometimes, during isolation, parents resort to additional physical violence - they lock the child alone in an apartment, room, and sometimes even in a closet, beat him if he violates the prohibitions.

Signs of psychological abuse

When a child becomes a victim of psychological abuse, this can be guessed from certain behavioral patterns. The following signs are observed:

the child develops anxiety, excessive anxiety;

appetite is disturbed;

the state seems depressed;

self-esteem decreases;

minor avoids peers, adults,

tends to retire; sometimes, due to psychological abuse, a child develops such a character trait as aggressiveness;

sleep is disturbed due to negative emotions;

the child begins to pay less attention to studies, gets bad grades at school;

constant threats, insults, bullying by peers or adults lead to suicide attempts.

As early as childhood, psychological abuse causes health problems. Physical and mental development is delayed, enuresis, nervous tics, and obesity occur. Emotional abuse affects the brain. This ultimately causes a predisposition to various diseases:

to coronary heart disease;

chronic fatigue syndrome;

oncological diseases, etc.

Domestic violence and advice to parents

Psychological violence in the family against a child occurs for various reasons.

Firstly, parents may simply not love their child. It's terrifying. This reason simply does not fit in the head. How can you not love your own child, because he is the future of parents. Abusive moms and dads need to be talked to. Relatives also need help. If the parents do not come to their senses, then it is best for the child to live, for example, with his grandmother.

Another common reason is demands on the child. It is important to remember that you cannot force another person to do something. Requirements that are impossible to fulfill or that the child does not like can suppress the will and cause a depressed state.

Commandments of wise parents

There are 4 commandments of wise parents. They can help avoid psychological abuse of a child, because mothers and fathers do not always realize that their upbringing is wrong and leads to negative consequences.

First of all, never try to make the best out of your child. Not all people are the same. Each person is endowed with certain abilities and capabilities.

Secondly, do not compare your child with other children, do not reproach him for not achieving something, like some of his classmates.

Thirdly, do not threaten the child, do not blackmail him. Otherwise, you will cause him only fear, shame. Your child may think that you just do not love him.

Fourthly, do not sort things out with a child in front of witnesses, even if he has done something. It is better to discuss the problem at home, find out the reason. When misbehaving, shame the child, but remember that there should be a measure in everything.

Problem at school Absolutely any child can become a victim of school bullying. The likelihood of this is greatly increased if he is calm, not too active and sociable. His offenders can be class leaders, aggressive children who have found a victim for self-affirmation or who always strive to be in the spotlight.

A child will always tell about psychological abuse if he trusts his parents. With a secretive nature, lack of trust in the family, the opposite situation is observed. The child does not share his experiences and problems with anyone. It is possible to guess that he became a victim of psychological violence at school. The presence of this problem is indicated by the following nuances:

the child does not want to go to school;

he does not talk about his classmates;

his things are sometimes torn or soiled;

The child returns home after school in a depressed state.

What to do if a child is abused during school

Psychological abuse of children at school is a problem that should be solved by parents together with the class teacher. The teacher, as a rule, is aware of everything that happens in the classroom. You can also talk to the mothers and fathers of the offenders. If a minor has been a victim of abuse for a long time, then the best way out is to change schools or temporarily transfer to home schooling.

If a child does not want to transfer to another school, then parents should give him some advice on how to deal with ridicule, insults:

who does this;

an effective way to deal with offenders is to show them that their unpleasant words do not hurt or upset at all;

in response to the insults of the offenders, you can simply laugh (if you demonstrate such behavior every time, then after a while, peers will simply become uninteresting in “poisoning” their victim).

Liability for child abuse in the Republic of Belarus

The legislation of the Republic of Belarus establishes several types of liability for persons who abuse a child.

Administrative responsibility. The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus provides for liability for failure to perform or improper performance of duties for the maintenance, upbringing, education, protection of the rights and interests of minors - in the form of a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine.