Whilst there is usually a fairly good chance that a child that is exposed to a situation of domestic abuse during his or her formative years will be influenced by it in some way, it is often difficult to see straight away just what that affect is likely to be.
Some children are direct victims of domestic abuse and there it may be simpler to appreciate the impact and to understand how this will surface in the years ahead, whereas others are only witnesses to violence at home. However, for those who have witnessed domestic abuse there can an equally negative influence on the child’s psyche, whether or not the consequences of what they have witnessed become obvious straight away.
A research project recently compiled by Megan R. Holmes, PhD, Assistant Professor of Social Work at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences in Cleveland has examined the long-term effects on children of both witnessing and experiencing domestic violence in the home.
Holmes says that around five million children each year in the US (around 750,000 in the UK) are exposed to domestic violence or its after effects, whether that’s hearing fighting, seeing injuries on one of their parents or having to be present in a house where a violent altercation has just taken place – for example where there is shattered glass or overturned furniture. Depression and anxiety, lower intellect, loneliness, isolation and problems with relating to others can all result from experiencing or witnessing domestic violence as a child. What has previously been unclear is the time period in which the reaction is likely to take place.
Dr Holmes’ most recent research project studied the long-term effects of this kind of experience on the ‘prosocial’ skills of a child, including respect, responsibility and assertiveness, as well as on aggressive behaviours such as yelling and shouting. Her research indicated that often no impact is seen straight away but that children tend to become more aggressive between the ages of five and six. If a child has suffered severe domestic violence, such as being burned or threatened with a weapon, problems usually start to appear around a year after the incident – something that Dr Holmes labels the ‘sleeper effect.’ These problems may become more obvious when children enter a formal social situation like secondary school, where the first real socialisation starts to take place.
What this research demonstrates is that there is a need to keep an eye on those children who have experienced any form of domestic abuse, not just after the incident happens, but over time – and especially when a child starts school. Conversely, if a child is showing signs of some sort of problematic behaviour such as those mentioned above, social workers should screen for domestic violence issues, not only at the current time but going back several months, or even just over a year to account for the possibility of the ‘sleeper effect.’
The charity Women’s Aid estimates that in relationships where there is domestic abuse, whether it is intended or not, children witness around three quarters of the incidents that take place. This is a lot to process for any human being, let alone a child, which is why research like Dr Holmes’ that highlights where support needs to be provided is essential.
Stephensons has a dedicated domestic abuse team ready to assist with handling cases of this nature. If you would like more information on how we might be able to help you please contact us on 01616 966 229 or complete our online enquiry form.