Effects on Children Exposed to Woman Abuse:
 

Aggressive Behaviour

• Emotional and behavioural problems like children who are personally being physically abused
• Aggressive with siblings, friends and teachers
• Misbehave, may be irritable and anger easily
• May destroy property and get into fights

Emotional and Internalizing Problems

• Emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, withdrawal and lack of motivation
• Physical complaints, including body aches, pains and illness with no medical reason
• Physical complaints may be due to tension build up as a result of what they are experiencing at home

Effect on Social and Academic Development

• Difficulty concentrating on school tasks
• Too sad, anxious, or worried to participate in activities at school and/or with friends
• Tend to use an aggressive approach when solving personal problems

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• PTSD can result when a person has been exposed to a serious, dangerous and/or scary event.
• Symptoms are often mistaken for attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• Symptoms include anxiety, fear, irritability, thoughts and flashbacks about the violence, anger outbursts, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty concentrating
• Traumatic events are re-experienced (e.g. nightmares)
• May avoid situations that remind the child of the violence

Subtle Symptoms

• Inappropriate attitudes about violence to solve problems
• Inappropriate attitudes about violence against women
• Agree with violence in intimate, dating, and marital relationships
• Very sensitive about problems at home
• They feel they are to blame for the violence

Reference: A Handbook for Health and Social Service Providers and Educators on Children Exposed to Woman/Family Violence, Health Canada 1999.