Domestic Violence and Young Victims
by Lisa Anderson - May 13, 2009
Domestic violence can have profound effect on the psychological health of a child. Presence of other stress factors, such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and exposure to community violence, only worsens the negative effects of exposure to domestic violence.
Growing up in an environment like that, the child's own personality and mental toughness influence his ability to cope with psychological effects of domestic violence.
Two key factors, a strong mother and a healthy emotional relation with parents, impart just the right attitude and pull the poor kid through this difficult phase.
Strong Mother a Pillar of Strength for Kids
The latest study by researchers at Michigan State University suggests that some children exposed to domestic violence tend to become resilient and tough. The reason, they believe, for this is their easy temperaments and having mentally tough mothers.
They studied around 100 American children who had witnessed domestic violence. Plus, they also observed more than 70 children who were not exposed to any such violence against their mothers.
It was found that the children exposed to domestic violence were more likely to develop emotional problems than others. But it was also found that those children who had mentally strong moms and were easy-going themselves were able to adapt well.
"Taken together, these findings underscore the differences in how children adapt and highlight the importance of individual and family resources to face the challenges of growing up in a highly detrimental environment," Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, clinical psychology graduate student at Michigan State University, said.
Healthy Parent-Child Relationship Vital
The presence of a strong relationship between the child and a caring adult can prove to be a major positive factor for the child who has to deal with domestic violence, says Joy Osofsky, Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, New Orleans.
Facing emotionally challenging situations, most children tend to rely on one or both parents for emotional support. But the ongoing domestic violence can sometimes restrain the parents' capacities to meet the emotional needs of their child and be there for him. Such parents may feel emotionally drained out and become distant or uncommunicative to their child.
It’s best to provide the child the security of a home with both the parents. However, an unstable violent environment with both the parents will do much more harm to the child’s psychologically than an emotionally stable environment with one parent.
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on May 15, 2009 - 12:02 | Write to author: Lisa Anderson |
