Violence in home changes children’s behaviour

Infants and young children can be seriously affected both biologically and in their behaviour and development by domestic violence, according to new research.

It found that distress caused by domestic violence showed itself in infants and toddlers as excessive irritability, a fear of being alone, sleep disturbances, and regressed behaviour.

A seminar on the issue also heard from one contributor who was aware of a case in past years involving a child who was hung from a nail on a wall by her father to watch while he physically abused her mother.