Domestic Violence and its Effects on Self-Esteem
March 11, 2008
Domestic violence is an issue that has plagued America for years on end. Statistics have shown that about 90% of partner violence involves women being abused by their counterpart. Even more saddening than this, between 3.3 million and 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year.
These statistics only further prove that domestic violence is not only a frequently occurring incident, but it contributes to negative patterns for children. It is easy to see then, how domestic violence can have a huge negative impact on self-esteem, of both the abused victim as well as children who are a part of the setting.
There are countless negative side effects on an abused victim’s self-esteem. Such negative effects include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Conduct problems at home and school
- Poor school performance and learning disabilities
- Inability to concentrate
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inability to sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Social incompetence
- Emotional numbing
- Continual focus on the violent events
As you can see from this limited list of negative side effects, the psychological impact surrounding domestic violence is immense. Every one of these things leads to a greater decrease in self-esteem.
The destructive impact that domestic violence has on a person’s self-esteem is enormous. If you know someone who is suffering under domestic violence, offer to help them get protection and help they need. You can never force someone to get out of a violent situation, but you can offer assistance to them and provide the help they need when they’re ready for it.
