-
A space for education, support and law reform.A project dedicated to sharing the stories, exploring the issues and providing a voice for people affected by domestic violence. -
A space for education, support and law reform.A project dedicated to sharing the stories, exploring the issues and providing a voice for people affected by domestic violence. -
A space for education, support and law reform.A project dedicated to sharing the stories, exploring the issues and providing a voice for people affected by domestic violence. -
A space for education, support and law reform.A project dedicated to sharing the stories, exploring the issues and providing a voice for people affected by domestic violence.
Effects of Domestic Violence
Effects on Women
Emotional
- Poor self esteem
- Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
- Poor self-confidence
- Feeling ashamed
- Confusion
- Sadness and frequent crying
- Anger
- Feelings of guilt
- Feeling as though they have failed
Mental
- Difficulty making their own decisions
- Minimising of denying the abuse
- Eating issues
- Depression
- Anxiety, fear, panic
- Feeling paranoid or crazy
- Believing they are responsible for the abuse
Social
- Isolation
- Loss of freedom and rights
- Attempting to please others
Physical
- Stress related illness
- Exhaustion
- Eating issues
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs
- Injury
- Death
Effects on Children & Young People
Infants
- Poor health and sleeping habits
- Excessive screaming
- Attachment to mother may be disrupted leading to emotional deprivation
- Permanently altered development of the infant’s central nervous system resulting in ongoing levels of anxiety, hyperactivity and mood disorders
- Infants show clear disturbances in response to DV from at least six weeks of age
Toddlers
- Frequent illness
- Low self-esteem and shyness
- Fear
- Social problems such as hitting and biting
- Withdrawn, passive, clinging and anxious (most often girls)
- Aggressive behaviour (most often boys)
Pre-Schoolers
In addition to the above characteristics:
- Somatic complaints
- Blaming themselves for the violence and feeling guilty
- Levels of anxiety are often linked to that of their mothers’
Primary School Age
In addition to the above characteristics:
- Difficulties with school work and school attendance
- Alternatively, very high achievers/perfectionists
- Difficulty concentrating
- Experiencing sleeping difficulties, such as nightmares
- Poor social skills and fighting with peers
- Rebelling against adult authority
- Aggression and poor anger management (most often boys)
- Anxiety and withdrawal (most often girls)
- Depression
- Displaying speech difficulties, such as stuttering
- Starting to show cruelty to animals
- Low self esteem and lack of confidence
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Regression to an earlier stage of development, such as thumb sucking and bedwetting
Adolescents
In addition to the above characteristics:
- Depression
- Aggression
- Violent delinquency
- Misusing drugs or alcohol
- Adolescent boys may model the perpetrator’s behaviour by assaulting their mother or siblings
LATEST STORIES
Entitlement; “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment”
There is always sector specific language; terms we hear in the course of doing our stuff, which we understand. But the conversation on the...
Pets In Crisis Need Your Help
JOSHUA ADAMSON
Pets are always a beloved member of any family, but what happens when this family starts to crack?
Domestic violence is a scourge on...
Gender bias and domestic violence
The implications and severity of domestic violence have been highlighted on a national stage over the past month, as Queensland works to recover from...
Life on the land: a domestic imprisonment
Beyond the city skyline and the essence of metropolitan life are places wholly removed from civilisation. Life on the land in rural Queensland can...
Misogyny: The new feminism
ARIANA PANETTIERE
We live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast. But if you tell people...
