They may withdraw from other people and become anxious or depressed. They may think badly of themselves and complain of vague physical symptoms. They are more likely to have an eating disorder, or to harm themselves by taking overdoses or cutting themselves. Children with these problems often start to do badly at school. They may also get symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that is, have nightmares and flashbacks and be easily startled.
Children suffer emotional harm if they are abused themselves.
Children who have witnessed violence are more likely to be either abusers or victims themselves. Children tend to copy the behaviour of their parents. Boys learn from their fathers to be violent to women. Girls learn from their mothers that violence is inevitable and something you just have to put up with. Children don t always repeat the same pattern when they grow up.