Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Children of domestic violence live with the impact for a lifetime.

Between 50% and 75% of male batterers also abuse their children.

40% of suspected child abuse also includes a history of domestic violence.

25% of the victims of domestic violence are pregnant women.

70% of the children in domestic violence shelters are physically abused or neglected.

80% of runaways come from homes where domestic violence occurs.

Young criminal offenders are four times more likely to come from abusive homes.

Girls from homes with domestic violence are 6.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted, and more likely to become pregnant as a teen.

80% of girls who grow up in homes of domestic violence grow up to become victims.

Boys from homes with domestic violence are:

4 times more likely to abuse in a dating relationship

6 times more likely to commit suicide

24 times more likely to commit a sexual assault as an adult

25 times more likely to commit rape as an adult

1000 times more likely to commit violent acts against an adult partner or their children

The long-term effects include: high degree of self-blame, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, high levels of stress related physical and emotional symptoms, delinquency, substance abuse, less empathy.

In 1998, 87% of all women in shelters had children under the age of 18 and the average age of these children was 6 years old. Furthermore, these victims reported that 62% of their children were present during the attack and that 94% of their children could see or hear the abuse.