| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the effects of domestic violence on adults who witnessed abuse as children
in their homes. It seeks to ascertain if the childhood emotional trauma of domestic violence
influences the growth and social adaptation of children in their later years. Despite the growing
awareness of domestic violence worldwide, there is nevertheless an alarming number of women
reporting abuse, and there are those who are reportedly beaten or inflicted with bodily harm at the
hands of their abusers. However, most of these domestic or household conflicts take place in
situations where children are involved. These children witness such abuse and grow up carrying
emotional and physical scars that impact their functioning as members of society.
The study adopts a life history approach to investigate 15 adult participants (five women
and ten men) within evolving themes relating to their experiences of domestic violence and other
life ordeals during their childhood that made them end up at the Elim Night Shelter in Cape Town,
South Africa. The study is anchored on the explication of such key concepts as domestic violence,
abuse and the physical, social, emotional and behavioural effects of abuse. Furthermore, the study
identifies the social consequences of growing up in an abusive environment. The findings of the
study reveal that people who witnessed acts of domestic violence as children experience negative
consequences as adults. Recommendations have been listed which could assist the further study
expansion on the topic, together with intervention strategies. | en_US |
