Impact of domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can cause serious and devastating long and short term physical and mental, emotional, and psychological health impacts on adults and children.
Not all domestic abuse begins with or results in physical abuse. Domestic abuse and associated trauma can have a significant impact on a victim’s emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing.
Some victims may require support to address their adopted coping mechanisms, such as using alcohol, tobacco or drugs misuse.
Many victims can be made homeless by domestic abuse. Annual statutory homelessness statistics for 2020 to 2021 show that 12% of households in England recorded ‘domestic abuse’ as their main reason for being homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Victims may suffer from the effects of economic abuse resulting in unemployment, diminished employment prospects, debt or coerced debt, or poverty.
Impact upon children
The impacts that domestic abuse can have on children can include:
- Feeling anxious or depressed;
- Low self-esteem and difficulties with forming healthy relationships;
- Physical symptoms such as stomach aches or bed wetting;
- Delayed development or deterioration in speech, language and communication;
- Reduction in school attainment, truancy, risk of exclusion from school.