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(http://www.womens-aid.org.uk/statistics.php). Source: Home Office Study ...


(http://www.womens-aid.org.uk/statistics.php).

Source: Home Office Study 2004: 39.
The above table shows how much time was taken off work due to domestic violence. Two days was the highest proportion, but 19% said they took a week or month off. These statistics are useful as they suggest that time away from work is a common affect of domestic violence. This leads to poorer earnings, reduced chance fo promotion, and more of a struggle for a mother to bring up her children. In worst cases children will be taken into care if they cannot eb provided for.
Immediate effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Young People
A report by the Department of Health concluded that:
For many women and their families the effects of domestic violence will be catastrophic, the damage to their physical and psychological well being may be deeply damaging, and on occasions fatal.
(Department of Health [DoH] 2000: 12)
Victimisation by a parent of a child or young person can lead to the individual becoming so controlled and inhibited that they are unable to make even the simplest decision or act without permission, responding with complete obedience to every order given and every rule imposed. Abuse can encumber every part of their life, leading in cases to suicide seeming like the only escape. Some people express their self-disgust and powerlessness through alcohol or drug abuse, or self-mutilation, exhibiting signs of severe depression and complete dependency on the abuser.(Shipway 2004: 1).
Because of the variety of forms which domestic violence can take it is difficult for research to cover all areas. For example, there can be negative effects from being an observer. Research by Fantuzzo and Mohr noted this and thus instead of using the term ‘victim' used ‘exposure.' This was used in the context of the experience of watching or hearing domestic violence; being directly involved; calling police; and the experience of the aftermath of scenes which might include seeing injuries or bruising on a parent and observing maternal depression. (Fantuzzo and Mohr 1999: 22).
Work by Hester et al found that children's responses differ among members of the same family who are witnessing or experiencing the same abuse. They also said that it is hard to discern the impacts of living with domestic violence on children, because some of the consequent behaviours also occur in children experiencing other forms of abuse and neglect. (Hester et al. 2000:44)
The following is a list of negative effects taken from Shipway 2004: 117):
Secrecy
Confusion
Fear
Mistrustful
Blaming themselves
Nightmares
In addition Hester et al. (2000:44) found that whilst some children have poor social skills others attain a high level of social skills development with an ability to negotiate difficult situations.


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