Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

| CWK Producer

Sixty percent of American kids are exposed to some form of violence, according to a new study from the CDC and U.S. Justice Department. And after the violence ends, some kids are left with the same disorder that afflicts combat soldiers.

All across America, children watch action-packed movies, use a toy rifle to shoot characters on a screen or witness some other multimedia form of violence.

"In movies, it's kinda cool, but when it's in real life, I don't really like it that much," says Christopher, 11.

Nine-year-old Dima agrees: "On TV or in books, violence doesn't seem that scary to me, except in real life it does."

On television and during play, it's all just make-believe. But real-life violence can have a very different impact on children than fantasy-based violence.

"We would hear a lot of gunshots coming from nearby, and that scares us," says 12-year-old Andre. "Every time we hear a gunshot, we would always run back to the house."

Nine-year-old Memphis also witnessed a violent incident. "We saw this guy keeled over on the ground. I never forgot that. It was always really vivid in my mind because it scared me," he says.

Sometimes, getting a firsthand look at violence can frighten a child so much that he or she begins to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, an emotional reaction to a deeply shocking and disturbing experience.

"One thing you see is children reliving what has happened," says clinical psychologist Dr. Sherry Blake. "You see them having trouble sleeping [and] dreaming. You see the tears, you see the shock and you see the visceral symptoms that emerge."

The numbers are startling. Nearly half of all children have been assaulted in the past year at home or at school. One in 10 saw a family member be assaulted. Thirteen percent report being bullied and six percent have been victimized sexually.

When children are exposed to high levels of violence, they are at an increased risk of developing emotional problems. Dr. Blake says it's important for parents to help their children release their feelings after witnessing a violent act.

"It's OK to write about the feelings, to draw about the feelings," Dr. Blake says. What you're trying to do is create an avenue, give them a way of expressing what they are feeling inside."

If your child is exposed to a violent situation, experts recommend watching him or her closely for dramatic behavior changes. An anxious, moody and easily startled child could signal a need for professional help

According to the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, children who witness violence have higher rates of mental disturbances, including post-traumatic stress syndrome, distress, depression and aggressive behavior. While this news isn't surprising, researchers are taking interest in the increased number of U.S. children who witness violent acts in their daily lives. The rate of incidence is especially high among inner-city youth.

Consider these facts from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

• New Haven, Connecticut: Almost all eighth-graders who were studied knew someone who had been killed.
• Los Angeles, California: Researchers estimated that children witnessed 10-20% of all homicides.
• Chicago, Illinois: One-third of the children studied witnessed a homicide, and two-thirds witnessed a serious assault.
• Boston, Massachusetts: Of the children under age 6 who were surveyed, one of every 10 witnessed a shooting or stabbing.
• New Orleans, Louisiana: Fifty-one percent of fifth-graders in a study were victims of violence, while 91% witnessed some type of violence.
• Washington, D.C.: Thirty-two percent of children age six to 10 in a study were victims of violence, and 72% witnessed some type of violence.

But it is not only inner-city youth who witness violence. According to the AAP, at least 3.3 million children in the United States witness violence between their parents annually. The AAP says that children of battered women seem "particularly disturbed" because simply witnessing physical threats or violence against one's mother is traumatic.

Tips for Parents

The results of the Harvard study on witnessing violence are echoed in previous research from the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA says children who see violent acts are at a greater risk for becoming victims of violence or participating in violent behavior. Growing up as a witness to violence can result in these additional consequences:

• Substance abuse
• Emotional disorders
• Poor achievement in school
• Aggressive behavior
• Serious injuries
• Health problems
• Suicide attempts
• Separation and divorce
• Physical and mental disabilities

The APA's Task Force on Violence and the Family found that not all children who are exposed to family violence suffer such severe consequences. Some seem to be more resilient than others. The task force identifies the following "resiliency factors" in children:

• Psychological hardiness
• Experience of more positive than negative behaviors
• High self-esteem
• Involvement with extended family and those in the community
• Support from teachers and friends

The APA task force recommends developing prevention strategies to keep family violence from ever occurring. It also suggests training for all teachers and school administrators so they can detect and intervene in family violence or abuse situations and teach children how to recognize and seek help when they witness or experience family violence.

References

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Psychological Association
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Harvard Injury Control Research Center
• U.S. Department of Justice

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