The family is the smallest, yet most important unit of our society. Being the first agents of socialization, it is not unexpected that most of the factors that will shape a child's life will be those things that they first experienced and were exposed to at home. Children, being in their early formative years are very delicate, thus their development and well-being require a conducive environment free from violence. Children are also vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, this often makes them principal victims of domestic violence. Where they are not the actual victims, they are direct witnesses of violence in the home; they are made to hear and see violence happen, to live with it. Idogo has opined that the effect that witnessing domestic violence has on children is very similar to the consequences of being the direct victim of abuse by a parent. It has also been pointed out that exposure to domestic violence can be substantially responsible for physical and mental health morbidity. Because children are unable to protect themselves, it is the duty of the parents as well as that of the government to ensure that children are shielded from domestic violence, or else every area of their lives and well-being may be affected.
Domestic violence refers to abusive behavior which occurs within the private, domestic sphere, generally between individuals who are related through blood or intimacy. It is the intentional and persistent abuse of anyone in the home in a way that causes pain, distress, or injury. It has many faces including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, and psychological abuse. Physical abuse may be in the form of beating, kicking, choking, forcible confinement, or genital or body parts mutilations; sexual abuse includes rape and molestation, using a child for prostitution, or exposing them to pornography. Neglect is also a form of abuse and includes denying the child food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and protection.
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Cultural ideologies and experiences such as physical and sexual abuse and witnessing domestic violence have been pointed out as factors that provoke belligerent and violent behavior. Child victims or witnesses of domestic violence may develop physical, psychological, and behavioral problems as a result of physical, verbal, psychological, and other forms of violence. Studies have revealed that exposure to domestic violence makes children social misfits who are prone to psychological imbalance and violent criminal tendencies. Some studies have also posited that children whose mothers were abused by their partners have Intelligence Quotients (IQs) which are lower than usual. Adolescents may develop low self-esteem and find it difficult to trust others. A researcher has opined that early childhood victimization, which could be through direct abuse or witnessing violence between parents can have long-term consequences for antisocial behavior, youth, and adult violence tendencies as well as other forms of criminality in the long run.
In 2001, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published the findings of a study conducted with approximately 826,000 children who were victims of abuse or neglect where it was reported that almost all of them had suffered some level of damage to their growing brains. It has been discovered that early experience can alter the way genes are expressed in a child's developing brain. Good experiences help the brain develop properly. The home environment usually provides the raw material for such development, so in a home where domestic violence exists, the child's brain will be adversely affected. An in-depth overview of related studies has been provided, suggesting that early maltreatment can have enduring and measurable effects on a child's developing brain, diminishing growth and reducing activity in key areas. According to U.S. News & World Report in 1996, fear that results from violence may have irreversible adverse effects on a child's brain. It stated thus:
Once viewed as genetically programmed the brain is now known to be plastic an organ molded by both genes and experience throughout life. A single traumatic experience can alter an adult's brain: A horrifying battle, for instance, may induce flashbacks depression, and a hair-trigger response of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers are finding that abuse and neglect early in life can have even more devastating consequences, tangling both the chemistry and the architecture of children's bring and leaving them at risk for drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and psychiatric problems later in life.
Statement of the problem
It is common knowledge that domestic violence is a widespread problem in Nigeria but we have not really paid attention to the effect that the menace has on the mental health of children. We must realize that when children are affected, society is affected as well. This is because these children grow up to become members of the society. Such children who are affected tend to imbibe violent tendencies as they mature and this results in a cycle of violence for coming generations. In most cases, people who become the perpetrators are those who were abused or were exposed to abuse and violence as children. It has been pointed out that where one form of family violence exists, there is a strong likelihood of the prevalence of other forms of vices.
In 2011, UNICEF Nigeria reported the scarcity of reliable data on violence against children in Nigeria because such cases are almost never reported. This is because such violence occurs majorly in the home and school settings where is it regarded as 'normal'. In Nigeria, the beating of children, which is a form of physical abuse is generally viewed as a form of discipline and is thus acceptable. This should not be so. It is true that Children have to be properly brought up and disciplined so that they can become reasonable members of society in the future, but what is termed 'discipline' in Nigeria, sometimes, is outright abuse. We all have to agree that slapping, kicking, flogging, or injuring children is going too far. Corporal punishment should not be a tool to 'teach them a lesson'.
The Nigerian government is falling significantly short in its duty to keep the Nigerian child safe. There are no enforcement agencies established to ensure that current laws are followed so that children are adequately protected, and that individuals who abuse them in any way, or who expose them to any form of violence are made to face the full wrath of the law. It is sad to say that some existing laws even encourage and condone domestic violence. These are the ills that this study aims to identify and correct.
Aims and objectives
This research seeks to throw the spotlight on the effect that domestic violence has on the mental health of children. The objectives are to:
- Establish the extent, contributing factors, and various forms of domestic violence.
- Expose impact of domestic violence on the mental health of children in Nigeria.
- Identify the relationship between a child's mental well-being and the development of society at large.
- Make recommendations as to what can be done and by which appropriate personnel or bodies to put a stop to domestic violence in Nigeria to ensure that children are protected from its impact on them.
Research Methodology
This study will make use of both the doctrinal and empirical approaches to research. First, this study will elicit information from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources are the laws themselves. These primary sources include; statutes and case laws that is, judicial precedents. The secondary sources on the other hand are materials that discuss, explain, analyse, and critique the law the same way this study will attempt to explain and interpret the law. Such secondary sources include textbooks, journal articles, scholarly, commentaries, conference papers, and materials from the internet.
Subsequently, the empirical method will be used by engaging an online survey to inquire into the impact of domestic violence on the mental health of children and how rampant the menace is in our society. This writer believes that this will join many voices together to point out how far the menace has gone and how deeply it has affected our children and society at large.
Scope and Limitations
This study will cover the impact of domestic violence on the mental health of children in Nigeria. It will define what domestic violence is and will enumerate the various types of domestic violence as well as the causes of domestic violence. In this study, the role of the government and of parents in curbing the menace of domestic violence and the protection of children will be highlighted. This writer will review the legal instruments which have been put in place to protect children from domestic violence in order to test their effectiveness. The importance of the proper mental development of the Nigerian child to society at large will also be identified in this study.
Significance of the Research
The significance of this study cannot be overemphasized as this invaluable research work will be a tremendous addition to the existing literature on the effect of domestic violence on children in Nigeria. It will be useful to researchers and students studying about domestic violence in Nigeria. This study will also help make people aware that domestic violence is never the answer to differences between individuals in the family by educating them about the dangers involved, including its effect on the mental health of children.
This study will not just describe a problem but will go further to prescribe solutions. It will be of great value to the government of Nigeria as it will serve as a guide to them as they promulgate and enforce laws and policies tailored towards the eradication of domestic violence in Nigeria as well as the protection of children who fall victim to the same. This work will be of academic, administrative, and social value to all Nigerians.
Synopsys of chapters
This long essay consists of five (5) chapters.
Chapter one aims at giving a general overview of the research topic by shedding light on the problems, to which the study seeks to propose solutions to, the aims and objectives, the research methodology employed, the research questions to be answered, the scope of the research as well as the significance of the study.
Chapter two will be concerned with an in-depth dissertation on domestic violence in Nigeria - its contributing factors, forms, and effect on the mental health of children.
Chapter three involves a critical analysis of the current and existing laws on the rights of children in Nigeria and will compare the enforcement of these laws with what obtains in another jurisdiction. It will also highlight various inhibiting factors to the effectiveness of the legal framework.
Chapter four sets out an inquiry into the impact of domestic violence on the mental health of children and how rampant the menace is in our society. This writer will do this by engaging in an online survey (questionnaire).
Chapter Five summarizes the findings of the research and concludes the essay by offering recommendations for the identified problems.
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