National Domestic Violence Prevention Month: The Lasting Effects on Youth and Families

October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence and its profound toll on families. Domestic violence (DV) manifests in many forms, including chronic arguing, controlling behaviors, intimidation, threats of harm, and serious injuries. At its core, it is about power and control, and often, recognizing patterns of coercive control in intimate relationships can serve as a crucial signal or foreshadowing of abuses.

Alarming Statistics and Their Impact

More prevalent than most people realize, DV accounts for 21% of all violent crimes in the U.S. Approximately 10 million people – 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men – are physically abused by an intimate partner. That is a rate of about 20 people per minute. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status, can experience DV.

The impact extends beyond adults, as 1 in 15 youth are exposed to DV in the U.S., and 90% witness it first-hand. According to the CDC, there is a 45% to 60% chance of co-occurring child abuse in households where intimate partner violence occurs. These numbers underscore a violent environment's serious toll on youth, shaping their experiences and psychological well-being.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects on Youth

Youth exposed to domestic or intimate partner violence are often unintended victims. The chronic emotional volatility and acute incidents of aggression within their surroundings can leave a lasting neurophysiological impact. Intimate partner violence can also impair parents' ability to be emotionally attuned to their children's needs and increase the risk of poor emotional bonding and harm.

Compared to other youth, those who witness domestic or intimate partner violence experience higher rates of insomnia, bedwetting, cognitive issues, learning difficulties, self-harm, aggression, depression, and anxiety. School-aged youth may exhibit guilt, lower self-esteem, headaches, stomachaches, and struggle with school activities and friendships. Teens may be absent from school frequently, have low self-esteem, and exhibit risky behaviors like experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Chronic exposure can result in life-long struggles with mental health as well as physical health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Additionally, exposure to domestic or intimate partner violence can perpetuate a cycle of violence and abuse, impacting social interactions and relationships into adulthood. Protective factors like strong interpersonal connections with safe adults and social outlets and support can help mitigate the risks of long-term impact. Understanding these effects is crucial for providing the right support to access help and break the cycle of violence.

How can we help?

One alarming fact is that as many as 3 out of 4 Americans are aware of someone being abused but often remain silent. Action is essential, and being an advocate means standing up when others cannot.

Check out the HHS Administration for Children and Families Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services calendar of events and resources.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the anonymous, confidential National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 (SAFE) or TTY 1−800−787−3224. SAMHSA’s Find Help webpage.

 References:

Edleson, J. (2011). Emerging responses to children exposed to domestic violence. Harrisburg, PA: VAWnet, a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Retrieved from https://vawnet.org/sites/default/files/materials/files/2016-09/AR_ChildrensExposure.pdf

 http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf

 https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/232272.pdf

 http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85239/1/9789241564625_eng.pdf?ua=1

Gilbert, L.K., Breiding, M.J., Merrick, M.T., Parks, S.E., Thompson, W.W., Dhingra, S.S., Ford, D.C. (2015). Childhood Adversity and Adult Chronic Disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010. American Journal of Preventive Medicine; 48(3): 345-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.09.006

 Monnat, S.M., Chandler, R.F. (2015), Long Term Physical Health Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The Sociologist Quarterly; 56(4): 723-752. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4617302/

 Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare. Washington, DC: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://cssp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/protective_factors.pdf

 National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/intimate-partner-violence/nctsn-resources