Overcoming domestic violence together: The importance of help-seeking and victim belief
Domestic violence can take various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and verbal abuse(1). In 2018 alone, an estimated two million adults in the UK (1.3 million women, 695,000 men) were victims of domestic violence(2). However, as domestic violence is often a hidden crime, this statistic only provides a partial picture of the actual levels of abuse that is experienced. It is important to understand that this is not an uncommon occurrence for men or women and that anyone suffering from abuse deserves to be treated fairly.
More than 75% of victims disclose their experiences to at least one member of their informal support network(3). However, following disclosure, victims experience a wide range of reactions, either positive, such as validating the victims experiences, or negative, such as blaming the victim(4). Still, victim belief is the crucial aspect of both how helpful the informal support is, and how likely the victim is to then seek formal support(4). This is because many victims need an ‘enabler’ to facilitate access to specialised domestic abuse services, i.e. confidential advice, practical, and emotional support(5). Yet, if the friend or family member neither believes the victim, or understands domestic violence, then this can lead to delayed or lack of access to these services(5).
Seeking the necessary help is crucial, as the impact of domestic violence extends beyond the victim. In a review of the literature, children who are exposed to domestic violence are at an increased risk of developing emotional and behavioural problems, as well as increased exposure to other adversities during their lives(6). Still, this risk can be minimised by a strong relationship with, and attachment to a caring adult(6). However, these children also have an increased risk of experiencing child abuse of an emotional, physical, and sexual nature(6). This is important because dual exposure to abuse and domestic violence can lead to avoidant attachment in children, through into adolescence(7), as well as increased emotional dysregulation and sensitivity to fight, flight, or freeze(8). These are warning signs that family, friends, and particularly teachers must become aware of, as in addition to restricting learning, increased awareness will enable people to help ensure children are being connected with the support they need.
Nonetheless, by no means does this mean the victim is to blame for their child’s development. It is important to acknowledge that experiencing domestic violence is not acceptable and that there are support services out there to help both the victim and their children(9,10). Whether this stems from informal or formal support, it is critical that the victim is both believed and supported, but never made to feel ashamed. If you are, or know someone that you suspect is suffering from domestic violence, the importance of speaking out and starting the support process as soon as possible, cannot be stressed enough. Ultimately, above all, domestic violence is something that can be overcome far more effectively when tackled together, than when left to tackle it alone.
References
1. ACESDV (2019, March 29) Types of domestic violence. Retrieved from: https://www.acesdv.org/domestic-violence-graphics/types-of-abuse/
2. Office for National Statistics (2019, March, 29) Domestic abuse in England and Wales. Retrieved from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeand
justice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2018
3. Ansara D. L., Hindin M. J. (2010). Formal and informal help-seeking associated with women's and men's experiences of intimate partner violence in Canada. Social Science and Medicine, 70, 1011–1018. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.009
4. Sylaska, K. M., & Edwards, K. M. (2014). Disclosure of intimate partner violence to informal social support network members: A review of the literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15(1), 3-21.
5. Evans, M. A., & Feder, G. S. (2016). Help‐seeking amongst women survivors of domestic violence: A qualitative study of pathways towards formal and informal support. Health Expectations, 19(1), 62-73.
6. Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child abuse & neglect, 32(8), 797-810.
7. Sousa, C., Herrenkohl, T. I., Moylan, C. A., Tajima, E. A., Klika, J. B., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Russo, M. J. (2011). Longitudinal study on the effects of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence, parent-child attachments, and antisocial behavior in adolescence. Journal of interpersonal violence, 26(1), 111-136.
8. Thompson, K. L., Hannan, S. M., & Miron, L. R. (2014). Fight, flight, and freeze: threat sensitivity and emotion dysregulation in survivors of chronic childhood maltreatment. Personality and individual differences, 69, 28-32.
9. Mullender, A. (2004). Tackling domestic violence: providing support for children who have witnessed domestic violence.
10. Victim Support (2019, March 29) Domestic violence services. Retrieved from: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/more-us/why-choose-us/specialist-services/domestic-violence-services