The Effects of Witnessing Domestic Violence on the Verbal Abilities of Preschool Age Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that witnessing domestic violence has on the verbal abilities of preschool-age children. Participants were 63 child-mother pairs who had experienced domestic violence. All participants were interviewed using measures that evaluated the effects that domestic violence had on various aspects of their lives. The results suggest that there was not a significant relationship between the level of domestic violence the children had witnessed and their verbal ability. Numerous other effects of witnessing and experiencing domestic violence on the emotional, behavioral and daily functioning of the children and mother participants were examined, and several significant relationships were suggested to exist.