Other Risks To A Child

A child may become abused themselves. Research indicated that co-occurence of woman abuse and child abuse occurring in the same family ranges from 30 to 60 percent (National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, 1998).

Serious behaviour and emotional problems are 17 times higher for boys and 10 times higher for girls who have witnessed woman abuse as compared with children who were not exposed.

A child may become hurt or abused if they try to intervene and protect the mother.

A child may be placed in the middle of conflict by one of the parents, which can be confusing and difficult.

Being exposed to woman abuse, even though the child may not become physically harmed, is a form of abuse known as emotional maltreatment.

Emotional maltreatment harms a child's sense of self and could cause serious social behavioural, cognitive, emotional or mental health problems.  It is typically a difficult form of maltreatment to define because it does not usually leave any physical evidence like bruises; and its often severe effects may not become apparent until later in the child's development.

Most children who have been exposed to woman abuse show signs of depression. They may also experience social, emotional, developmental, cognitive and physical delays.

Source: Canadian Incidence Study of Reporter Child Abuse and Neglect, Health Canada, 2001.