Facts about Domestic Violence

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Effects Of Domestic Violence on Adults:

* A woman in the United States is more likely to be killed by her partner than by any other assailant
* Family violence kills as many women every five years as the total number of Americans who died in the Vietnam war
* Every nine seconds another woman is beaten by her husband or boyfriend.
* Battering often occurs during pregnancy or soon after a woman gives birth.
* Men can also experience domestic violence though it is not as common as for women.
* Individuals in same sex relationships also may experience domestic violence.

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children:
* Over 3 million children are at risk of exposure to parental violence each year
* Nearly half of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children, and 75% of battered women in the US say that their children are also battered
* Children from violent homes have higher risks of juvenile delinquency and alcohol and other drug abuse.
* Boys who witness domestic violence are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys raised in nonviolent homes.
* Children living in violent homes may experience cognitive or language problems, developmental delay, stress-related physical problems (such as headaches, stomach aches, bedwetting, and rashes) and hearing and speech problems.

Some of the emotional and behavioral effects of domestic violence on children include:

-- Fear, worry about being safe;
-- Aggression toward others
-- Guilt for not being able to stop the abuse or for loving the abuser;
-- Depression;
-- Sleeplessness;
-- Reluctance to explore their physical environment;
-- Mental disorders;
-- Eating disorders;
-- Lowered self esteem;
-- Withdrawal;
-- Poor school performance;
-- Difficulty paying attention.

for more on the extent and effects of domestic violence, see:
Nat. Dom. Viol. Hotline