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The impact on children
"I am an 11yr old boy. I feel very sad. He just started drinking, goes up stairs, then 10 minutes later he gets up and gets more drink. After that he started to hit me and when I am in his way he hits me. When I play a game of football he hits me across the head all the time, and he hits my Mum and kicks and punches the dog because he couldn't get his own way. At Xmas he hit me"

There is clear evidence from research, which indicates that domestic violence has a detrimental impact on children (Hendessi 1997). It is important to remember that a wide range of effects of living in violent circumstances may have both a direct and an indirect impact upon children, and it may be short term and/or long term.

"My friends have been there when he's hit my Mum....I mean, in front of me its not so bad, but he shouldn't do it in front of my friends."

Domestic Violence (DV) may be in the form of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial or social, which in turn effect the daily lives of children. It must be made clear that children often form learned characteristics, which may see the actions viewed as a child repeated in later years of their life.

The following gives an indication of the range of effects upon children, however, it is not an exhaustive list, it is important to remember that every child responds to experiences in their own unique way.

• Physical injuries, including bruises.
• Being protective of mother and/or siblings.
• Aggressive behaviour.
• Changes in behaviour/unpredictable behaviour.
• Introversion/withdrawal.
• Advanced maturity.
• Feelings of guilt and blame.
• Secretiveness.
• Fear/insecurity/ emotional confusion.
• Truanting from school/running away from home.
• Bedwetting/nightmares/sleep disturbance.
• Eating difficulties/self-harm/weight loss.
• Sadness and depression.
• Fear of being the same as parents.