Domestic violence is a learned pattern of behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other person. The partners may be married or not married, gay or lesbian, living together, separated or dating. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of domestic violence and can lead to criminal abuse. The violence takes many forms and can happen all the time or once in a while. There is no typical profile of domestic violence victims except that they are usually female.
Children living in homes where a mother is abused are more likely to be abused themselves.
Even if they are not, children who witness abuse are victims. You are not to blame. And, you can get help. Though both women and men can be a victim, the vast majority of victims are women. For women aged 15 to 44, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury.