Family abuse may begin quietly- perhaps within the walls of a home just up the street from you… but the impact of family violence and abuse reverberates throughout neighborhoods, towns, and cities. In time, untreated family trauma can threaten to overwhelm every institution that supports the health and security of our community.
How does Family Abuse Impact School Performance?
Studies consistently demonstrate a higher probability of Poor School Performance in children who have histories of direct and indirect family abuse exposure.
(Children exposed to Abuse in their first 5 years are 300% more likely to have cognitive difficulties than their piers.*)
Performance Issues include:
Absences from School.
Tardiness.
Lower Test Scores
Less Likely to Attend College.
Poor Homework and Study Habits.
Forced to Repeat a Grade.
Enrollment in Remedial Classes.
Cognitive abilities in the lower 25% of their Age Group.
*https://casaspeaks4kids.com/child-abuse-affects-academic-achievement/
How Does Family Abuse Effect Drop Out Rates?
Data confirms that Family abuse-related trauma directly impacts drop Out rates in Children, Adolescents, and young adults who have experienced physical, sexual and emotional violence at home.
Drop Out Rates for those who report abuses are as follows*:
Physically abused Children - 31%
Witnessed Domestic Violence - 26%
Beaten as Punishment - 24%
Raped / Severe Sexual assault - 25%
Molested - 13%
Witnessed Atrocity - 22%
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3089672/#:~:text=Review%20of%20specific%20trauma%20experiences,those%20who%20had%20not%20experienced
How does Family Abuse Impact Work Performance?
Research focused on the Impact of Domestic Violence and other Family Abuse, As it relates to Work place performance, demonstrate overwhelming challenges that make keeping a job difficult.
In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, Impact on DV Survivors’ work performances were reported as follows:
Feel distracted, emotionally or Physically unwell at work - 81%
Abuse or threat of abuse make regular attendance or arrival on-time difficult - 38%
Took time off to cope or Recover from abuse- 39%
Had Co-Workers who were impacted and/or distracted one or more times - 37%
Reported that Abuse at home had a major impact of their job performance - 40%
Reported abuse had a moderate impact on job performance - 37%
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676385/
What is the Relationship between Unemployment and Family Abuse?
Unemployment, like may other Issues linked to family abuse, is both a ‘symptom’ and a ‘Catalyst’ for more violence at home.
Links between unemployment and Family abuse include:
Childhood Physical Abuse increases the chances of unemployment by 140%
Adults who have experienced 2 or more types of abuse are 180% more likely to live below poverty lines.
A 1% Increase in unemployment rate, consistently yields an average of 20% more reported cases of child abuse and Neglect.
unemployment in men has been linked to a 30% increase in intimate partner violence.
Nearly 9% of Surveyed IPV Survivors stated that they had lost jobs due to The difficulties at home.
It should be noted, that some studies have focused on unemployment, and how the potential loss of economic control can neutralize an abuser’s power, theoretically reducing violence. However, there remains a clear correlation between unemployment and abusive conduct- past and present.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/childhood-maltreatment-linked-adulthood-economic-problems/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171103085315.htm
How does mental Health and Family abuse impact one another?
While it is very important that the introduction of Mental Health data in discussions of Domestic Abuse does not further stigmatize those living with mental health disorders. The vast majority of people living with Mental health challenges are NOT Violent, but the relationship between MH and DV is significant and MUST be confronted in order to reduce and prevent episodes of family abuse.
Links between Mental Health and Family abuse include:
Women experiencing Depression or anxiety disorders are 250% - 350% more likely to have experienced DV Than women not suffering from these disorders. Similarly women who have endured dv are 700% More likely to have a PTSD diagnosis.
20% of women who have experienced domestic violence report new MH issues after Exposure.
Over 9 in 10 Male domestic abuse offenders at Healing the Home, report a history of family abuse-related trauma including direct Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse exposure; abject poverty; prolonged separation from parents; or witnessing extreme violence or suicide (of a loved one). their average ACES scores Regularly exceed 4.5- deemed “high-risk” for Toxic stress physiology.
over 22% of children exposed to significant DV are later diagnosed with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder, among other issues.
Abuses perpetrated onto (or by) someone we 1.‘relate to’ or ‘depend on’, and 2.which occur in times, or places we presumed we would be safe are most likely to cause the most severe damage to the HPA axis, Linked to emotional regulation and stress management.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2012/december/domestic-violence
https://www.newswise.com/articles/witnessing-parental-domestic-violence-in-childhood-linked-to-mental-illness-in-adulthood#:~:text=Witnessing%20parental%20domestic%20violence%20in%20childhood%20linked%20to%20mental%20illness%20in%20adulthood,-Released%3A%2020%2DApr&text=Newswise%20—%20A%20new%20study%20from,some%20point%20in%20their%20life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrE9a9ouCGk
What is the Relationship between Substance Abuse and Family violence?
Although a victim’s intoxication NEVER excuses the perpetration of physical, sexual or emotional abuse- Strong correlating data suggests that substance abuse dramatically increases the risk factor for men and women who are Victimized by family members and intimate partners.
Links between SUD and Family abuse include:
2 in 3 people seeking Substance addiction treatment are abuse survivors.
Children whose parents abuse substances are 300% more likely to be abused.
More than 33% of Children who have a reported case of abuse will develop an SUD before adulthood.
More than 80% of men who murder intimate partners struggled with alcohol abuse Within the 12 months preceding the tragedy.
50% of IPV Offenders Are believed to have substance abuse disorders.
9 in 10 Healing the Home Clients either struggled with substance abuse, lived with a family member struggling with substance abuse or made an emergency call for in response to an incident that Occurred when someone in the home was intoxicated.
Strong Family Bonds, and healthy intimate relationships has been proven to significantly reduce the probability of relapse.
https://americanspcc.org/child-maltreatment-statistics/#:~:text=In%20one%20study%2C%20children%20whose,abused%20or%20neglected%20as%20children.
https://alcohol.org/women/domestic-abuse-and-alcoholism/#
How are Suicide and Family abuse linked?
Whether “Victim” or “Offender”, the likelihood of suicide is greatly increased in homes and relationsh.
Links between Suicide and Family abuse include:
80% of those who attempt suicide are child abuse survivors.
Intimate partner problems account for over 1 in 4 of the Known Stressors that prompt suicides.
43% of those who commit suicide have recent histories of intimate partner violence.
72% of murder-suicides are IPV related
23% of IPV Survivors make at least one suicide Attempt in their lives.
Children who experience abuse as are up to 3 times more likely to make a suicide attempt during their lifetime than their peers.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6420923/
https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/health/domestic-violence-survivors-at-higher-risk-for-suicide
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/child-abuse-linked-to-risk-of-suicide-in-later-life/
