The Way Domestic Stress Affect The Development of Child Psychology

Domestic violence occurs in many families and it may lead children to have problems through their developments. Domestic violence which also triggers domestic stress that may affect the development of child psychology can be referred to as a relationship problem in which partners seek power over the other partner. One of the biggest main factors in this problem is disorganized communication within the family, and the other is lack of respect and love for each other.

The first problem with domestic stress, as I have pointed out, is disorganized communication within the family which increases toxic stress that possibly may negatively affect children’s development. There are some consequences and effects of this problem in the family. Family members may have difficulties in communicating with each other which often causes toxic stress on children that they may assume adult responsibilities at an early age, and missing the opportunity to be a child. Secondary, the children who have experienced domestic violence or stress may have destructive and potentially self-damaging behaviours. The number of children who are exposed to domestic stress is too much to underestimate. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is stated that approximately 683,000 children in the U.S. were officially documented as having been maltreated and having been exposed to domestic stress. 

Families having disorganized communication generally ended up with a divorce which has a crucial impact on both children and parents in the long-term and short-term. Chase-Lansdale and Hetherington found that during the first two years after a divorce both children and adults experienced pragmatic, physical, and emotional problems as well as declines in family functioning. By two years after the divorce, the majority of families had made significant adjustments, although among children there were variations by age and gender. While girls seemed to recover fully during the primary school years, boys in mother-custody homes exhibited behaviour problems for as long as six years. 

However, Chase-Lansdale found that parental divorce had negative consequences for the mental health of some offspring that persisted into adulthood. Parental divorce was associated with a moderate increase in the average score on a measure of mental health and a 39% increase in the risk of psychopathology. Despite this significant effect, it is important to note that only a minority of people were at such risk: 82% of women and 94% of men whose parents divorced were predicted to fall below the clinical cut-off for psychopathology. However, for those families having these problems, there are some ways to improve the family disorganization. Firstly, it is necessary to learn three Rs of order which are: rules, roles, and rights. Every member must understand that definite actions are expected while other actions will not be accepted. Children need clear limitations about rules and regulations so, giving them warmth feelings, self-confidence, security to become their best and teach those moral values and all the rules in a friendly manner and understand their feelings. Every member of the family has its role to be played for the survival of the family and society. When those roles are not clarified and identified purposefully which may not be healthy and appropriate, then everyone will force them to be improper role. For example, parents have the vital role of authority and they are decision-maker as well. Children are the citizens of society and have the right to speak in family affairs properly. Lastly, everyone should have the right to listen to others and use a respectful tone. Family rights raise the spirit of trust and mutual respect among the family members which is very much necessary. 

The second problem is a lack of respect and love for each other. Love and respect are the keys on which family relations are based. Children who are lacking love and respect feel more anxious, less happy, and more likely to experience depression and anxiety. It is crucially vital for children who are at the age of growth to receive respect as well as love. The love and respect they receive from their parents may have an impact on the development of children and their characteristics behaviours. To give an example to support this statement, every nation and country has certain characteristics which stem from the way that they have been treated. However, the lack of love and respect may have negative consequences on the development of children since children learn so many things from their daily experiences and their parents’ actions. 

It is also crucial for children to receive love and respect from their families since it teaches children to love other people and respect other people as well. There is a shred of clear evidence that parents can and do influence children. There is clean proof that children’s genetic background impacts their behavioural characteristics, and additionally impacts the manner they're treated by their parents. 

To conclude everything that has been stated so far, families who are having difficulties in communicating with each other must seek professional help to maintain their children’s psychological balance and their own psychology as well. In modern societies, family is a major context in which childhood socialization takes place.