Abstract
Children exposed to domestic violence are always affected in the future. This study examines the exposure to domestic violence as a kid and its effect and consequences in youth. This analysis is from a statistical data from 2004-2008 which consists of computerized records of domestic violence and its effects on the youth. Results show that exposure to domestic violence as a kid has adverse effects on a child in their youth. When accounting for risk factors associated with family stressors, those children exposed to domestic violence have an elevated risk of the tested outcomes compared to those not exposed.
Introduction
Every year there is an estimated 4 million to 10 million kids are exposed to domestic violence in their homes (Schewe 34). A study investigating the prevalence of domestic violence found out that around 10 million children have gone through domestic violence from the year 2002- 2008 (Creswell 44). Domestic violence is a continuum abuse ranging from physical, verbal, sexual assault, rape and even homicide. Most domestic violence incidences are mostly perpetrated by men against their women and children. Kids being exposed to domestic violence while young are affected in their youth. Finkelhor et al asserts that, young children have become vulnerable and victims of domestic violence either directly or by witnessing scenes of domestic violence between their parents (33). Most domestic violence cases have remained unreported leaving women and children injured and in fear and some women remain quite to avoid society degradation.
Literature review
Exposure to domestic violence as a kid has its effect and consequences in youth. It affects the children’s growth and development. Effects of domestic violence on the youth who were exposed to domestic violence while they were kids has increased over the years. According to Heppner et al domestic violence has impacted the youth negatively and this affects their development and social life (56) .Kids exposed to domestic violence experience emotional, social and mental damage in their youth and this affects their growth and development. Many of them feel isolated, feel unwanted and are unable to connect with other people due to social discomfort. In addition, most of them develop post traumatic stress and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Kids exposed to domestic violence experience many negative outcomes in their youth (Teicher, Samson, Polcari and McGreenery 67).
The current study examines the effects of domestic violence on the youth who were exposed to it while they were kids. We hypothesize that kids exposed to domestic violence will exhibit anti-social behaviors, depression and delinquency. Moreover, they will show abuse and domestic violence in an elevated level compared to those not exposed to it.
A past research conducted by Edleson, Gassman, Pines and Hill on domestic violence effects on the youth done on children at the age of 6-13 revealed that more than 80% of children have been exposed to Domestic violence in the past year (94). The same survey also found out that 60 % of children of all ages were exposed to Domestic violence since birth until they became teenagers and left home. Most of these children exhibited externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Some of the research by Vickerman and Margolin looked at showed that boys mostly will demonstrate a variety of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, whereas other studies found the reverse (76). Vickerman and Margolin used logistic regression to test their assumed associations between the likelihood of being above a clinical threshold and gender (76). Concerning parents who ignite domestic violence, it was stated that men are the main cause of domestic violence in their homes and they hurt their children and mothers on daily basis.
Recent studies show that children exposed to domestic violence exhibit anti-social behaviors and more problems compared to those who have not been exposed to domestic violence. Moreover, they learn to use violence just like the parents as the social learning theory suggests (Schewe 102). According to the social learning theory, people learn from what they see and these children exposed to domestic violence may also learn to use it on their peers and in their families when they have one. Many children exposed to domestic violence become very aggressive and violent and at the end try to justify their behavior and use of violence. Most of the children admitted of being involved in undesirable behaviors like aggressiveness and criminal behaviors.
Method
This study is going to define and clarify issues surrounding domestic violence and its effects on kids and the youth. What are the effects and what should be done to reduce domestic violence in order to save our children from its adverse effects. The independent variable in the analysis is the conditions (perception and psychological result in the youth). The dependent variable is the outcome and suggested treatment intervention for children exposed to domestic violence and how domestic violence can be eliminated in the families.
The current study is going to be based on a self report from the child and a therapist. Consequently, samples for this research will come from community based education programs. This is just a sample research and cannot represent a large population of children who are exposed to domestic violence in their homes. Moreover, the participants enrolled in these programs reside in shelters. There are many issues still to be investigated to develop the lives of youth who experienced and witnessed domestic violence while they were kids, although the agreement is clear that there are many accompanying factors that influence a child’s outcome. The children are going to be picked randomly but the gender will be balanced. The study will involve around 200 children from Peace Community Educational Centre. A few women like 10 of them will be involved in the study too so as to share their experience in domestic violence. Moreover, they will have to answer questions on what they think was the cause and how it affects them together with their children. The children will then undergo interviews on their lives back with their parents and if they ever experienced domestic violence. They will be asked a few questions on what they think were the reasons of domestic violence in their homes and how they were affected.
Results
The cases reviewed on domestic violence all revealed domestic violence problem to be associated with isolation and they take place within the privacy of their home and that is why many of them remain unreported. All respondents admitted that domestic violence has negatively. Moreover, the women also admitted that they together with their children were affected with domestic violence particularly emotionally as from the accounts of the children affected as some said they became withdrawn, another aggressive, and another blaming her mother for being the cause of domestic violence in their home. The interview provided a good response since many people are always reluctant to admit to the presence of domestic violence in their homes and how it has affected their children. However all the respondents interviewed answered openly and with honesty about their experiences in domestic violence. They all admitted to have experienced domestic violence.
Conclusion
This research has looked into a cross section of the population of young people in a community based program who had been reported to have experienced abuse were asked questions about their experience with domestic violence and both reported feelings of sorrow and aggression. A random sample that was done on women and children revealed that more than half of them had experienced domestic violence in their lives.
The findings were consistent as many of the children used in the study admitted to domestic violence. The few women present also admitted to have experienced domestic violence together with their children. Future research should be able to explore the main causes of domestic violence in families and how it can be eliminated. Furthermore, further studies should be done on the stability of the family unit since most children who have experienced domestic violence live in homes, or community centre.
In essence, domestic violence appears to have adverse negative effects on kids and the youth. Most of them have sleepless nights, fear and guilt and will always want to fight back to protect their mothers. In addition, young children are affected with their learning ability since they cannot concentrate because they cannot forget what happens in their home after school. Their play in school is also affected since they seem to sit alone thinking of what happens in their home. In the youth, research shows that they end up developing undesirable behavior by being aggressive with their peers. Domestic violence affects the youth’s social behavior. Moreover, they develop the inability of not trusting people, depression and can even indulge in drug and alcohol use leading to street gangs.
Works cited
Creswell, John. Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). United States of America: SAGE Publications, Inc. 2009. Print.
Edleson, Jeffrey., Gassman-Pines, Jenny., & Hill, May. Defining child exposure to domestic violence as neglect: Minnesota's difficult experience. Social Work, 51, 2006, (2), 167-174.
Finkelhor, David., Turner, Heather., Ormrod, Richard. & Hamby, Sherry. Violence, abuse and crime exposure in a national sample of children and youth. Pediatrics, 124, 2009, 1411-1423.
Heppner, Paul., Wampold, Bruce. & Kivlighan, Dennis. Research design in counseling (3rded.). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole Company. 2008. Print.
Schewe, Paul. Direct service recommendations for children and caregivers exposed to community and domestic violence. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, 4, 2008, (1), 31-47.
Teicher, Martin., Samson, Jacqueline., Polcari, Ann., & McGreenery, Cynthia. Sticks, stones, and hurtful words: Relative effects of various forms of childhood maltreatment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 2000, (6), 993-1000.
Vickerman, Katrina. & Margolin, Gary. Posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents exposed to family violence: II. Treatment. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38, 2007, (6), 620-628.
