Effects on Children

Infants

  • Basic need for attachment is disrupted.
  • Routines around feeding/sleeping are disturbed.
  • Accidental injuries during an abusers violent episodes.
  • Irritability or inconsolable crying.
  • Frequent illness.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Developmental delays.
  • Lack of responsiveness.

Preschool

  • Somatic or psychosomatic complaints.
  • Regression.
  • Irritability.
  • Fearful of being alone.
  • Extreme separation anxiety.
  • Developmental delays.
  • Sympathetic toward mother.

Elementary Age

  • Vacillate between being eager to please and being hostile.
  • Verbal about home life.
  • Developmental delays.
  • Externalized behavior problems.
  • Gender role modeling creates conflict/confusion.

Preadolescence

  • Behavior problems become more serious.
  • Increased internalized behavior: depression, isolation, withdrawal.
  • Emotional difficulties: shame, fear, confusion, rage.
  • Poor social skills.
  • Developmental delays.
  • Protection of mother, sees her as "weak".
  • Guarded/secretive about family.

Adolescence

  • Internalized and externalized behavior problems can become extreme and dangerous: drug/alcohol, truancy, gangs, sexual acting out, pregnancy,runaway, suicidal.
  • Dating relationships may reflect violence learned or witnessed in the home. 

 

Adapated from Boulder (CO) County Safehouse Information Guide