Domestic Violence is a complicated and uncomfortable issue, one not often spoken about in public. But it is an issue which affects all of us – if not directly than indirectly. There has been a lot of domestic violence research but somehow the findings of this research fail to get the headlines that are warranted by the size and severity of the problem.
As a human rights issue which affects more than 3 million children every year, it is shocking that domestic violence remains a secret. Here at Makers of Memories, we realize the power that one simple fact can have on people. Hearing that more than half of school age children in domestic violence shelters show clinical levels of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder can make you stop and think. So can hearing that 75% of boys who are present when their mothers are beaten were later identified as having demonstrable behavior problems.
These simple facts can make a huge difference in the fight against domestic violence. Simply mentioning facts makes domestic violence an acceptable topic of conversation and can make a difference in the life of a survivor.
Top 10 Alarming Facts About How Domestic Violence Impacts Kids
1. 63% of all boys, age 11-20, who commit murder kill the man who was abusing their mother
2. 75% of boys who are present when their mothers are beaten were later identified as having demonstrable behavior problems
3. Children from homes characterized by domestic violence are five to seven times more likely to experience significant psychological problems relative to children in the general population.
4. Domestic violence exposed children are four times more likely to visit the school nurse.
5. More than half of school age children in domestic violence shelters show clinical levels of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
6. Researchers have linked exposure to chronic abuse and violence with lower IQ scores, poorer language skills, decrements in visual-motor integration skills and problems with attention and memory.
7. Cognitive problems associated with exposure to violence and abuse comprises one of the most direct threats to the developmental task of school adaptation and academic achievement.
8. Witnessing violence as a child is associated with adult reports of depression, trauma-related symptoms and low self-esteem among women and trauma-related symptoms among men
9. Children in homes where domestic violence occurs are physically abused or seriously neglected at a rate 1500% higher than the national average in the general population.
10. 3.3 million children witness domestic violence each year in the US.
We’ve put together a short video which shows 10 Alarming Domestic Violence Statistics You Didn’t Know, which is sure to make you question the silence which surrounds domestic violence.
The Children of Domestic Violence Foundation brings positive, transformational change to children impacted by domestic violence. You can make a difference.
If you enjoyed this article, share it!
20 Responses to Ten Alarming Domestic Violence Statistics
Leave a Reply
The Children of Domestic Violence Foundation brings positive, transformational change to children impacted by domestic violence. You can make a difference.
Featured Post
Social Media
I feel sorry for the kids who have to experience domestic violence. It can traumatize a kid and have them do the same thing to their family, thinking this is normal in some cases.
I like the helpful info you provide on your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at once more here frequently. I’m rather sure I will learn plenty of new stuff right right here! Good luck for the following!
Those of us who grew up in the pain of abuse, know all to well that educating young women to recognize and escape from abuse is a great need in this country. Far too many turn their backs and pretend it’s not happening because they don’t know what to do. Even our law enforcement officers have been guilty of turning thier backs. Thousands of children grow up enslaved into abuse in the name of religion. Polygamist cults are famed for the enslavement of children and the terrerizing endoctrinization of damning and destroying women who turn away from polygamy. I was born a slave, sold as a slave and bred as a slave right here in the USA, in polygamy where children forfiet their rights and their lives to criminal conrol masking itself as freedom of religion.
[...] Read More… [...]
I was so sad watching the Dr. Phil show today. The beginning of the show was especially difficult to watch and listen to the child on the phone with 911 while her mother is beaten in the background. I am 40 years old and listening to that took me back to age 5 and 6 when my father used to abuse my mom and I would take my little sister to protect her. We would just sit on the couch crouched together. I still to this day have visions of some of the things I witnessed and heard. I am super sensitive to this issue and on edge because of it. It is so difficult to overcome. Guess I still need some therapy. I am so happy this organization exists though to help the children regain their lives, a sense of normalcy and to let them know everything will be okay.
Shawn, Thank you for sharing. I know it must have been difficult to watch the show and to then post a comment.
Please stay in touch with us, our program is not just for children who experience DV, but also for the adults who were these children.
I worked at a women’s shelter for a few years and the rates are alarming.
[...] see some startling statisitics from children who view domestic violence check out this [...]
[...] how you can fight domestic violence by learning more about it. Check out Domestic Violence Statistics for more information. Scared and [...]
Wow, this is a real eye opener for me. I’ve helped a friend years ago get out of a relationship that had domestic violence and I noticed that her children never seemed like they got over it. I’m going to pass this on to her. Do you have any resources to recommend for mothers to help their children heal once they are out of a bad relationship?
Hi Linda! Thanks for your response! We are actually currently working on an educational initiative that will be implemented across the country providing the resources, information, and tools necessary to begin the healing process once an intervention has occurred. Please sign up as a volunteer on our site, and maybe you can help when we are ready to implement the program! http://www.makersofmemories.org/volunteer
[...] activated by court order against people who committed domestic violence. There are also even more domestic violence statistics over at Makers of Memories, with 10 of the most startling statistics I have read to yet about the [...]
Any type of mental and physical abuse in any household is a sad situation.
More must be done to protect innocent men and women of these sad events.
Thank you for the article above.
14 years tomorrow i left my abuser my x-husband. I remember exactly how it felt, I could breathe again! But I still suffer from PTSD because of the years of abuse.
The fact that 63% of young males in jail for murder, have killed their mom’s abuser has not changed in decades…yet it is 100% ignored by a media that bashes these males as the problem of crime and violence NOT the abuser !!! Unlike those “good” people who judge these young men , ONLY these young men thought the domestic abuse on mom’s was horrid & needed to end!! Only they wanted to help, Only they were torn apart by the weight on their conscience & heart at the abuse they knew was happening: The ‘good’ people cover up for the abusers & censor out the FACTS of how 63 % of ALL young males in prison for murder, murdered these abusers: What kind of backwards culture is so misogynistic, so inhuman as to look the other way & protcet this violence to women in the home. SAD. & Pathetic.People say WHY DIDN’T ANYONE EVER STOP THESE VIOLENT BOYS/YOUNG MEN …Because they ONLY value the lie of the abuser….instead of why don’t THEY THEMSELVES WHO JUDGE THE YOUNG MEN, EVER CARE ABOUT THE UNSPEAKABLE VIOLENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSERS? Because they don’t give a darn, unlike those “evil” young men. It goes on and on. females in domestic abuse are most likely to be killed by young males ages 18 to 24…The younger generation has gotten the horrid, inhuman message that females don’t count in human rights & as real ,live human beings. And for ABUSIVE MEN, we even spit on & view as worthless the lives of children and ALL these young males…who gave a darn.
It is frightening to realize that so many tears are shed in silence. It is important to bring these issues into focus. The things we focus on drive our actions.
I can agree with these as I’ve seen my own children suffer from domestic violence. But what happens to the children when the father is the one being beaten as I was then lost in court to stay with mom and watch dad unable to do nothing . Such a sad, sad world that many only see the one side. Saved my own life but I cannot save the children.
I am so sorry, Michael, to hear of your experience, yet so heartened to know that you came to this site to better understand your children’s experience. We do live & operate in a world that understands intimate partner violence primarily from the perspective of men abusing women. New research by Peter Jaffe, Michael Johnson, Joan Kelly, and others is opening the perspective for professionals to see the differentiation of types of intimate partner violence (FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 46 No. 3, July 2008) and to use more thorough assessment tools to understand children’s needs in light of this.
wow! thanks for sharing and opening our eyes to the reality of it all….I think most of the time we think about the woman being brutalized first..and forget how scary and tragic it is for the kids!!!! never mind the long term effects on both:(
Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea that the majority of murders committed by boys were done to protect their mother. I’m going to share this on Facebook!!