The Effect on Children
We must not forget that domestic violence also impacts children who are exposed to it. Whether they are victims of or witnesses to violence, it takes root in their life history. Like their mother, the children must deal with the cycle of violence. Its effects on children include:
Physical effects
- Sleep disorders
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hyperactivity
- Aggressivity
- Headaches or stomach aches
Psychological effects
- Fears
- Trouble at school
- Tendency to isolate themselves
- Insecurity/anxiety
- Guilt feelings
- Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness
- Feelings of terror
- Conflicting loyalties: always feeling torn between the two parents
Behavioural effects
- Aggressivity, hyperactivity, impulsivity
- Violent reactions in disputes with peers or siblings
- Manipulative and/or oppositional behaviour in interactions with others
- Tendency to lie, disobey, cheat or destroy objects