For children, the effects of domestic violence are devasting. Fear children are afraid that one parent will die or be seriously injured. Gult Children think the abuse is their fault. Confused Feelings Children are upset by their mixed feelings of love and hate for parents and of fearing though wanting to be with the abuser. Lack of Trust Children have difficulty in forming positive relationships due to lack of parental nurturing.
Some children are overly eager to please any adult.
Role Revesal Children are often placed in the parental or caretaker role, because the parents are too involved in the abusive situation to adequately address the family's needs. School Problems Children want to stay home, because they think they can control the abuse. This results in truancy, poor attention span, grade failing and dropping out. Depression Children feel overwhelmed by their inability to stop abuse, and in some cases children are suicidal. In babies, this takes the form of failure to thrive.