Violence:  The Hidden Damage

Children Who Witness Violence

Children's exposure to violence at home, at school, or in the neighborhood, either by observation or by experience, is the single most powerful risk factor for generating violent individuals in our culture.

Facts about children witnessing violence:

• Children who are routinely exposed to violence often demonstrate difficulties managing anger.
• 88% of participants in Hampton PATTS (Peaceful Alternatives to Touch Situations) school-based program reported witnessing violence in their neighborhoods.
• Young boys who witness physical abuse to their mothers are more likely to abuse women when they reach adulthood.
• Adolescent girls who witness domestic violence in their homes are more likely to become involved in intimate partner violence.

What we know:

Children exposed to violence and mistreatment suffer increased depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, anger, alcohol, and drug abuse and lower academic achievement.

• By the time a child reaches the age of 18, the probability is one in four that he or she will have experienced family or community violence, either as a victim or as a witness.
• Child abuse is 15 times more likely to occur in families where domestic violence is present.  A comparison of delinquent
  and non-delinquent youth found that a history 
  of family violence or abuse is the most 
  significant difference between the
  two groups.

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