Children, Young People and Domestic Abuse

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Children, Young People and Domestic Abuse

Children and young people can suffer the effects of domestic abuse if they see, hear or are used in the abuse or actually hurt themselves by the abuser.

Children can experience domestic abuse as:

• Witnesses to domestic abuse. This includes seeing or hearing abuse, seeing physical signs after the violence or witnessing the effects of domestic abuse on the abused person.

• Weapons of abuse. An abusive partner can use access to their children as a form of abuse and control. They may try to turn children against the other partner or undermine the other partner’s parenting role.
• Victims of abuse. Children may be physically or emotionally abused by the abusive partner (or even in some cases by the abused partner).

Children who experience domestic abuse, whether in same sex or heterosexual relationships, can suffer from a wide range of negative effects from short term physical injuries to long term emotional or psychological trauma. All children who experience domestic abuse are affected by it in some way.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse and you have children with your partner or from a previous relationship you should seek legal advice. The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline Line 0800 024 1234 or you could contact the Equality Network.