Domestic abuse includes a wide range of unacceptable behaviour, including physical, sexual, mental / emotional and financial abuse and other controlling behaviours. It occurs between current and ex-partners, and is frequently but not always perpetrated by a man against a woman. Domestic abuse can, and does, occur in all social groups, and is not caused by factors such as stress, unemployment, poverty, alcohol or mental illness.

Domestic abuse has a significant impact on children and young people who have either witnessed abuse or live in a household in which it is occurring. Children and young people may also be used as part of the abuse or may become directly involved in an attempt to protect their mother. Research has also shown that there is a link between domestic abuse and the abuse of children. Even when children have not directly witnessed or been involved in the abuse, they may still experience significant effects of living with the fear, intimidation and isolation of their mothers.

Research conducted by Scottish Women’s Aid has shown that:

• over 100,000 children and young people in Scotland are living with domestic abuse in their lives.
• in 90% of cases of domestic abuse, where a child is part of the household, children are in the same or the next room.

Children and young people living with domestic abuse display a wide variety of responses including changes to their emotional, psychological and social behaviour (both at home and at school). Young people describe feeling guilt, fear, anxiety, confusion and anger. They may be disruptive at school, or fail to attend altogether as they are afraid of leaving their mother alone with the perpetrator. These feelings can also contribute to problems such as bed wetting, sleep disturbance, stress related illness, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm, aggressive behaviour and withdrawal. The ways in which children react to domestic abuse vary widely, and depend on the child’s age, personality and wider family circumstances. Children who appear to be coping well may actually be deeply affected by their experiences.