Family violence is more likely to occur in couples with children, often commencing in pregnancy, which means children may be exposed to physical harm from a very young age. It has been estimated that about one third of pregnant women are affected by domestic violence.

Experts say that pregnancy can bring stress to a relationship, which is a trigger for an abusive partner. One in 6 abused women reports that her partner first abused her during pregnancy, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, at least 4 to 8 percent of pregnant women report suffering abuse during pregnancy. The situation isn’t likely to get better once the baby is born. At that point, the child often becomes another victim in the cycle of violence. Research shows that child abuse occurs in anywhere from one-third to more than three-quarters of families in which a partner is also being abused.

This is likely to include significant psychological harm which affects a child’s social and intellectual development.

The children who are most at risk for carrying domestic violence into the next generation are those that are affected by it during the first years of life. In one study, researchers from the University of Minnesota tracked 168 children born to mothers identified as high-risk for domestic violence. The study began during the mothers’ pregnancies and followed their children through their mid-20’s. It turned out that exposure to domestic violence in the first five years of life directly predicted involvement in a violent relationship at age 23, either as a victim or a perpetrator. In contrast, children who were only exposed to domestic violence in middle childhood (ages 6-8) appeared to be more resilient and were not at greater risk for violence in young adulthood.

How Family Violence Affects Children

The Australian Institute of Family Studies report Children’s exposure to domestic and family violence, draws on local and international research to examine the effects on children raised in abusive households.

"It affects their development in such a global fashion," AIFS director Anne Hollonds said. "The problems are extensive and they go right across physical and mental wellbeing, cognitive development, which obviously affects academic achievement and employment."

The study found child abuse often co-existed with domestic violence and that victims of persistent maltreatment in childhood suffered similar effects to trauma, which can lead to aggression, self-hatred and a lack of awareness of danger.

The Australian Human Rights Commission released a report on Monday that found up to five children in every classroom had experienced or witnessed family violence.

The National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, said children were the "invisible victims" of the domestic violence scourge and that growing up in an abusive household could have a devastating lifelong impact on a person’s mental and physical health.

She said children exposed to family violence might also feel they needed to defend the parent, or be the one to call police or an ambulance.

Children do not experience violence in the same way as adults. Children are not resilient – they can develop resilience but part of their survival mechanism is to be highly receptive and adaptive to their environment. Their brains are what is called "malleable" which means the brain is shaped by experience.

In families where children are exposed to violence from a very young age, for example before they are able to talk, the effects of family violence might mean they are unable to develop a sense of safety and well-being because their brain is developing neural pathways to respond to an environment of fear. Even where one parent acts protectively towards the children, if there is family violence in the home then children are also victims.

Children who witness abuse are abused themselves and will need extra support and care to reach their full potential.

The Long Term Consequences of Family Violence

The research literature documents the following psychological and/or behavioural impacts:

depression;

anxiety;

trauma symptoms;

increased aggression;

antisocial behaviour;

lower social competence;

temperament problems;

low self-esteem;

the presence of pervasive fear;

mood problems;

loneliness;

school difficulties;

peer conflict;

impaired cognitive functioning; and/or

increased likelihood of substance abuse

eating disorders

teenage pregnancy

leaving school early

suicide attempts

delinquency

violence.

When Is Family Violence Most Likely To Occur?

There are several high risk times for family violence to occur:

During pregnancy

During separation

During family court proceedings

Re-partnering

Having a child with a new partner

Family violence, neglect and physical and emotional harm accounts for the majority of all abuse suffered by children.

Important factors in the impact of violence on the developing brain include

The type of violence

The pattern of violence

The presence or absence of a supportive caring adult carer

The age of the child

Where family violence is a feature of a couple’s relationship it cannot separated from parenting – it is a feature of their parenting and will influence the type of person that child will become.

One of the saddest outcomes is that children who witness domestic violence grow up to have a greater risk of living in violent relationships themselves, whether as victims or as perpetrators. Without more awareness of this problem and help for these families, the burden of domestic violence will continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

If you’re in an abusive relationship, the following services may help.

Support services

www.dvac.org.au – resources and support for women experiencing family violence

talera@carinity.org.au – support for children who have experienced abuse or neglect

If you’d like to exit your relationship and need an expert family lawyer, contact us today for your free, 10-minute phone consultation.