An Abusive Father and the Effects on a Young Woman's Relationships

An abusive father can have a detrimental effect on a young woman's confidence and on
her future relationships. Some three million children witness violence in their homes
each year, according to an article on Crisis Connection, "The Effects of an Abusive Man
on His Children." A young woman who had an abusive father is at risk for developing
poor interpersonal relationships, mental health issues and physical ailments.
As a victim of paternal abuse, a young woman may have experienced verbal or physical
violence. The function of verbal abuse is to make the woman feel small by using
physical and verbal threats, according to the article, Escape from an Emotionally and
Verbally Abusive Father" by Susanne Babbel on PsychologyToday. This cycle of abuse or
"battered person syndrome" occurs in three stages: the tension-building phase, the
battering incidence or "eruption," and the respite phase. Young women with a history of
abuse learn to alter their own behavior to pacify the abuser to prevent a battering
episode. In essence, the woman blames herself for her father's abusive actions, which
can cause problems for the woman in future intimate relationships.
A woman abused by her father may have problems choosing loving partners. Previous
sexual, verbal, or physical abuse puts a woman at risk for developing high-risk
behaviors which may affect her decision-making skills, according to the article, Longterm Consequences of Child Abuse, posted on the Child Welfare Information Gateway
website. These risky behaviors may cause a woman to select poor life partners. Abused
woman usually have self-esteem issues and may repeat the abuse cycle by having
relationships with people who exhibit the same deleterious behavior as her father.
Having an abusive father has long-term emotional and physical ramifications on a
young woman. Emotionally, a woman may develop clinical depression, which includes
low self-esteem, poor self-confidence and a sense of worthlessness. Post-traumatic
stress disorder is also common in battered women and the symptoms include anxiety,
depression, poor concentration and memory, nightmares and flashbacks. The emotional
effects of a father's abuse can also translate into physical symptoms. A life-threatening
situation such as abuse can turn on the survival mode inside the body, according to
Babbel in the article, "Escape from an Emotionally and Abusive Father," on Psychology
Today. In a life-threatening event, the body releases stress hormones, which can raise
blood pressure and affect the immune system. Over a period of time, a woman with a
condition such as PTSD, may develop physical illnesses like high blood pressure because
of stress on the body.

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