Effects of Domestic Violence on Children: Effects, and Ways to Change and Improve

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Running Head: EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN Effects of Domestic Violence on Children: Effects, and Ways to Change and Improve Millions of children are exposed to domestic violence every day. In order to decrease the prevalence of domestic violence, researchers must raise awareness about the effects to children, identify ways to create a positive child-raising environment, and recommend ways to improve current programs aimed at decreasing domestic violence. This paper will review the long-term effects that domestic violence has on children; identify positive child-rearing tactics, and interventions. According to Holt, Buckley, & Whelan (2008), “the term domestic violence broadly refers to the intimate context within which one partner is abused by another, involving both men and women as victims and same sex partner violence.” The United States Bureau of Justice found domestic violence amongst partners affected 1 in 320 homes; specifically children were present in 35.2 % of the documented cases, more than one third. It is estimated that over 200,000 children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence (Sousa, et al, 2010). Children are in some cases invisible victims of domestic violence (Hedeen, 1997); they are not physical victims, they carry the effects psychologically and emotionally. There are numerous physical and emotional effects domestic violence may bring to a child. Children living in a home where domestic violence is present are linked to many different emotional problems. Some emotional problems noted in the literature are emotional distress, fear of being alone, sleep disturbances, and being emotionally distant (Holt, Buckley, & Whelan, 2008). In another study, odds for felony assault, minor assault, delinquency and status offense were two times greater for children who were exposed to domestic violence than

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