Experiencing domestic violence indirectly can be as harmful to children as experiencing it directly, causing both short-term and long-term behavioral and emotional issues. Children who witness abuse are more likely to repeat the abuse themselves and experience lower self-esteem, violent behavior, shame, stress-related physical symptoms, delayed development, lower problem-solving skills, aggression, loneliness, nightmares, anxiety, phobias, suicidal thoughts, and weaker school performance. Domestic violence is often caused by learned behavior from society and family, lack of communication and understanding of power dynamics within the family, and substance abuse exacerbating aggression.