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The impact of domestic violence on children
There are
well-established links between perpetrating adult domestic violence
and child abuse (Morley and Mullender 1994; Hester et al. 2000).
Children and families living with alcohol problems and domestic
violence face a double dose of harm and have a greater need for
support and adequate coping mechanisms. Working holistically with
parents who have alcohol problems and who suffer or perpetrate domestic
violence should serve to benefit the children and improve family
life.
Children suffer
harm from domestic violence in two ways:
- Direct
or indirect harm children from parental substance-related domestic
violence
- Experiences
of childhood abuse placing them at higher risk of developing
adult substance problems
- Children
report witnessing, and often experiencing, extreme violence (Gorin’s
2004, Mullender et al. 2002).
- Both domestic
violence and substance problems have a negative impact on parenting
ability (Cleaver et al. 1999) and on the child’s development
and security.
- Research
shows that women with children are at nearly twice the risk of
suffering domestic violence than those without children (Walby
and Allen 2004).
- Harwin and
Forrester’s (2002) study of social work with families with
alcohol problems found that “alcohol misuse was strongly
associated with violence in the home” (p5).
- Negative
short and long term effects result from children’s exposure
to domestic violence including damage to family attachments, child
aggression or withdrawal, sleep problems, fear, a wish for safety,
and feeling responsible for the violence and powerless to intervene
(Mullender et al. 2002, McGee 2000).
Child
abuse and adult problem drinking
- There is
increasing evidence that women and men who have been abused as
children are at increased risk of developing adult substance problems
– either drugs or alcohol (Clark and Foy 2000, Downs et
al. 2004, Galaif et al. 2001, Hartley et al. 2004, Kantor and
Asdigan 1997, Miller et al. 1993, Pedersen and Skrondal 1996,
Wall et al. 2000).
- Based on
existing evidence asking about domestic violence may also prevent
the children becoming clients of adult substance treatment services
in later life.
Working
to protect children
There is limited guidance available on how to work to protect, and
build resilience, in families suffering substance-related domestic
violence. Cleaver et al. (1999) highlight the need for joint working
and collaboration between specialist agencies, as well as information
for families and children that is appropriate to age and language
needs.
Introduction | Impact of domestic violence on women
Additional risk factors | Implications for social work practice and assessment
Good practice examples | Websites
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