Children exposed to domestic violence can experience psychological effects like anxiety disorders, PTSD, loss of interest in school, substance abuse, and delinquency. They may also have difficulty forming healthy relationships and exhibit self-blame. Witnessing domestic violence can cause increased sensitivity to anger as well as sadness, fear, and stress responses. Exposure to violence and trauma can neurologically impact brain development and potentially lead to the development of abusive personalities. Some states are now considering child exposure to domestic violence a separate criminal charge. Further research is needed using broader definitions of violence and examining health and medical consequences.

1. children exposed to domestic violencePsychological Effects

2. Psychological effects Anxiety disorders

3. Post traumatic stress disorders

4. Loss of interest in school

5. Substance abuse

6. Delinquency

7. Inability to seek healthy relationships

8. Self-blame attitude (Cummings, et al., 1989, as cited in Jarvis et al., 2005). Psychological distress of children and mothers in domestic violence emergency shelters Display an increased sensitivity to angry adult interactions

9. Respond with sadness, fear, anger, and stress

10. PTSD symptomatology

11. Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (Cummings, et al., 1989, as cited in Jarvis et al., 2005). The pain of domestic violence exposureWords do hurt

12. Environmental influences, the developing brain, and aggressive behavior“Trauma research suggests that the brain may undergo neurobiological change in a region called the hypothalmo-pituitary axis (HPA) that triggers a stress response” (Hudley, Novac, n.d).

13. The development of abusive personality: A trauma responseWitnessing violence, experiencing violence, shaming, and insecure attachments, may lead to the development of abusive personalities in males.

14. These males show difficulty in redirecting their aggression towards others

15. These males have a high chance of becoming partner abusers (Lawson, 2001). Legal and policy responses to children exposed to domestic violence: The need to evaluate intended and unintended consequences Child witness to domestic violence is now being considered a secondary crime to domestic violence

16. Child witness to domestic violence is being factored into criminal sentencing is some states

17. In other states such as Oregon and Utah, exposure to domestic violence is being considered a separate charge (Jaffe, Crooks, Wolfe, 2003). Next steps in research on children exposed to domestic violence:Broader, more inclusive definitions of violence are needed

18. In order to examine different perspectives multiple reporters are needed

19. Valid and informative measures of violence are needed fro identification and assessment

20. More studies are needed that examine the effects of domestic violence

21. Research is needed that examines the medical and health consequences (Prinz, Feerick, 2003). ReferencesHudley, C., Novac, A. (n.d.). Environmental influences, the developing brain, and aggressive behavior. Theory into Practice. 46(2), 121-129 Irving, M. (2004). Emotional abuse. Retrieved from http://www.irvingstudios.com/child_abuse_survivor_monument/EmotionalAbuse.htmJaffe, P., Crooks, C. Wolfe, D. (2003). Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 6 (3)Jarvis, J., Gordon, E., Novaco, R. (2005). Psychological distress of children and mothers in domestic violence emergency shelters. Journal of Family Violence, 20(6), DOI: 10.1007/s10896-005-7800-1Lawson, D. M. (2001). The development of abusive personality. Journal of counseling and development. 79 (4), 505

22. References continuedPrinz, R., Feerick, M. (2003). Next steps in research on children exposed to domestic violence. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 6 (3)