This article abstracted from The Daily Times magazine

Volume 2, No. 6, 2011

The Impact of Domestic Violence in Our

Community
Rodney Rogers

Family violence and domestic abuse have a significant impact on the lives of
women and children and the long-terms costs facing our community.
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that
women who reported experiencing domestic abuse, had an associated higher
lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders, dysfunction and disability.
The study pointed to the sad fact that violence against women is a major
public health concern, contributing to high levels of illness and death
worldwide, according to background information in the article.
Susan Rees, Ph.D., of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South
Wales, Australia, and colleagues assessed the association of a composite
index of GBV (rape, sexual abuse, IPV, and stalking) with a range of lifetime
mental disorders, including indices of severity and co-existing illnesses. The
researchers analyzed data from the Australian National Mental Health and
Well-being Survey of 2007, which included 4,451 women (65 percent
response rate), ages 16 to 85 years. Diagnostic criteria from the World
Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey Initiative was used to
assess lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder, anxiety, mood disorder,
substance use disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The researchers found that the lifetime prevalence for any mental disorder
was 37.8 percent. A total of 1,218 women (27.4 percent) reported
experiencing at least 1 of the types of violence in this study. Women who had
been exposed to 1 form of domestic abuse reported a high rate of lifetime
mood disorder (weighted, 30.7 percent), lifetime anxiety disorder (38.5
percent), lifetime substance use disorder (23.0 percent), lifetime PTSD (15.2
percent), and any lifetime mental disorder (57.3 percent).

This article abstracted from The Daily Times magazine

Volume 2, No. 6, 2011

The researchers also found that domestic abuse was associated with more
severe current mental disorders, higher rates of 3 or more lifetime disorders,
physical disability, mental disability, impaired quality of life, an increase in
disability days, and overall disability.
The data underline the observation that mental health disorder in women
who have experienced domestic abuse tend to be more severe and
associated with comorbidity, characteristics that require expert and
comprehensive approaches to treatment.
In addition, an article in An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and
Resource (AARDVARC), reported that battered women are at greater risk for
suicide attempts, with 25% of suicide attempts by women.
Along with depression, domestic violence victims may also experience
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by symptoms
such as flashbacks, intrusive imagery, nightmares, anxiety, emotional
numbing, insomnia, hyper-vigilance, and avoidance of traumatic triggers.
Several empirical studies have explored the relationship between
experiencing domestic violence and developing PTSD.
Children may develop behavioral or emotional difficulties after experiencing
physical abuse in the context of domestic violence or after witnessing
parental abuse. Responses in children may vary from aggression to
withdrawal to somatic complaints. In addition, children may develop
symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Although women are the prime victims and will experience this long array of
emotional illnesses, the impact on children, the community and on society is
also profound.
Impact on Children
One-third of the children who witness the battering of their mother
demonstrate significant behavioral and/or emotional problems, including
psychosomatic disorders, stuttering, anxiety and fears, sleep disruption,
excessive crying and school problems.
Those boys who witness abuse of their mother by their father are more likely
to inflict severe violence as adults. Data suggest that girls who witness
maternal abuse may tolerate abuse as adults more than girls who do not.
These negative effects may be diminished if the child benefits from
intervention by the law and domestic violence programs.

This article abstracted from The Daily Times magazine

Volume 2, No. 6, 2011

The long-term effects of child sexual abuse include depression and selfdestructive behavior, anger and hostility, poor self-esteem, feelings of
isolation and stigma, difficulty in trusting others (especially men), and
martial and relationship problems, and a tendency toward revictimization.
Other effects identified include runaway behavior, hysterical seizures,
compulsive rituals, drug and school problems.
Economic Effects
Victims often lose their jobs because of absenteeism due to illness as a result
of the violence. Absences occasioned by court appearances can also
jeopardize their livelihood. Victims may have to move many times to avoid
violence. Moving is costly and can interfere with continuity of employment.
Many victims have had to forgo financial security during divorce proceedings
to avoid further abuse. As a result they are impoverished as they grow older.
Victims are not the only ones who pay the price. Women who were victims of
domestic violence cost health plans approximately 92% more than a random
sample of general female enrollees.