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Violence against women and children of all socio-economic and cultural groups has been acknowledged as on the the most pervasive and werious problems in today's society. It is esimated that one in ten women in Canada is the victim of assault by her partner. It is increasingly recognized that the children of these women are also profoundly emotionally and psychologically afected by the abuse. The majority of these children personally witness the injury and suffering of their mothers. In addition there is a strong likelihood that children of abused women will directly suffer some form of abuse themselves.
A Toronto study has documented that in families with children, a child was present and witness the assault of his or her mother in as many as 68 percent of incidents. Based on clinical experience it is estimated that as many as 80 percent of children of abused women witness the abuse of their mothers.
Research has demonstrated that in one out of three families where the mother is assaulted the children are also directly abused.
Children living in violent homes suffere emotional abuse as a direct consequence of witnessing or being subject to the violent behaviour of their fathers or their mothers' partners.
Children who witness the abuse of their mothers and are also physically or sexually abused themselves demonstrate the most negative longterm consequences.
Women are often abused during pregnancy. The abuse can have detrimental effects on the pregnancy and the development of the fetus.
Infants can be particularly vulnerable to injury during the course of the assault on their mothers.
Studies conducted in women's shelters have documented that children may also be at risk of neglect or abuse by their mothers. The cumulative stress of being victimized herself may diminish her confidence as a parent.
Children whose mothers are abused grow up in a family atmosphere of tension, fear, intimidation and tremendous confusion about intimate relationships.
When a woman decides to leave her abusive partner a child's living arrangement can be dramatically affected by the crisis in the family and the adjustment to a new living arrangement, in many instances a shelter for women and children.
Separation and divorce can have many negative effects on a child's development. Children with abusive fathers experience the combined impact of the separation and the violence that caused it. They may experience guilt about positive feelings they have for their father or the may be anxious and fearful about contact with him.
Low self esteen, a lack of self-confidence and insecurity are often the result of living in a violent home.Children's feelings of fear and vulnerability can cause high levels of anxiety. Children do not feel safe in their own homes.
Fellings of guilt and a sense of responsibility for their mothers' suffering are common for these children. Children may feel responsible for their fathers' anger.
Children from violent homes may not develop social competence and often become socially isolated and have poor relationships with peers. A sense of shame and a need to hide the chaos at home from others affects their ability to express their feelings openly.
At an early age children may begin to exhibit behaviours such as nightmares, sleep disturbances, bed-wetting, and poor impulse control.
As children grow older they may begin to demenstrate extremes of behaviour. Many children internalized their experiences ahd are depressed, withdrawn, or passive, ecperiencing feelings of hopelessness or powerlessness.
Other children externalize their feelings and become involved in delinquent acts and aggressive behaviour.They may begin to mimic the belittling behaviour toward their mothers. Boys particularly may begin to be aggressive in their relationships with their mothers or girlfriends.
Adolescents may asume a burden of increased responsibility in the family in attempts to protect their mothers or shield their younger siblings. Some adolescents demonstrate severe psychological and emotional distress that may culminate in running away or in a suicide attempt ot the abuse of drugs or alcohol.
Childreb often experience school difficulties resulting in poor academic performance, difficulty in concentrating, frequent absences, behaviourla difficulties, conflict with other children, and disruption in schooling or adjustment to a new school. There can be a tendency to want to be perfect, and this creates much stress.
Most women who leave an abusive partner suffer significant economic consequences. It is well recognized that poverty can be a highly significant factor that compromises a child's physical and psychological development. Becoming poor further compounds the impact of the violence on the child.
In addition to the negative psychological impact of violence, shildren may also develop inappropriate attitudes about violence that can stay with them throughtout their lives. Children learn that violence is an accepted way for men to relate to women and to resolve conflict within a family - often without negative consequences for the offender.
Children develop attitudes and may begin to act out learned behaviour. For boys this may mean perpetuating a cycle of violence in future relationships with women by imitating the behaviour of their fathers. In the event that girls become involved in relationships with violent men when they grow up they may see few option for themselves to escape from the situation.
Research demonstrates that the response of children to violence against their mothers or themselves differs greatly. The duration and degree of the violence is a significant factor. Protective factors related to the child, the family and/or the community can influence the degree of negative impact on the child to the extent that some children do remarkably well in the face of great adversity.
Such factors may include a good relationship with the mother, a good network of social support outside the family and the resilience of the individual child.
It is increasingly recognized that a woman's motivation to leave a violent partner is strongly influenced by her concern for her children. The decision to leave is often precipitated by an awareness of the harmful effects of the violence on her children or when the father begins to directly abuse the children.
Professionals who work with women and children, and the general public must be made aware of the realities of wife abuse and the extent of the impact on children.
When wife abuse is identified, resources must be made abailable to assist the woman and to support the child as well. There must be a recognition that abuse of the child is also a strong possibility.
Resources for children for their support, protection and treatment should be developed in coordination with the development of resources for abused women.
The education system can play a critical role through the training of teachers, the development of curriculum, liaison with the systems designed to intervene on behalf of the woman and child and by meeting the educational needs of the individual children whose mothers are abused.
Primary prevention programs need to be developed to ensure that all children recognize the impact of the use of violence and power in relationships and so that they can develop alternative conflict resolution strategies.
Coordination and integration among the many complex systems that intervene in wife abuse, and development of multidisciplinary training programs, are critical to an effective response. A recognition of the impact on the child emphasizes the need for coordination with the systems involved with the child as well.
A recognition of the grequency of the co-existence of wife assault and child abuse reinforces the need for linkages between the efforts of service providers on behalf of abused women and abused children and an exploration of the commonalities of all forms of abuse. Consideration must be given to child welfare legislation reflecting the risks to children of exposure to wife abuse.
Greater consistency and coordination in information gathering related to children, and further research, will enhance the knowledge base of the impact on children
