Effects of Domestic Violence on Child
Academic Performance
Francine Lopez
Northern New Mexico College
Department of Integrated humanities and Social Sciences; Psychology
concentration
Abstract
• This exploratory research was
conducted to determine the effects
that domestic violence has on child
academic performance.
• The data was collected and
analyzed from 34 NNMC students.
• The qualitative data indicated that
only 13 respondents were
comfortable enough to give light
detail on the abuse they
witnessed.
• The quantitave data indicated that
53.33% of respondents reported
feeling safe in the school setting.
Introduction
• The research looks at the
psychological effects on children of
parental domestic violence as
reported by NNMC college
students.
• Don’t forget Exploratory purpose.
Provide a one sentence statement
of your problem, e.g. your topic.
•At least 10 million children are
exposed to marital violence each
year, and most of which are aware of
the fighting.
Data Collection and Methods
Data Analysis and Findings
• Data was conducted with a survey
was composed with both Likert
scale and dichotomous questions.
The content of the questions were
important, as is the sequence to
ensure validity.
• The dependent variable shows,
the college students having
reported observing instances of
domestic violence as a child
suggests a high amount of
domestic abuse among them.
Note that 16 of the 34
respondents skipped this
question, indicating the sensitive
nature of the subject. Table 2:
Did you observe domestic
violence as a child?
• Though a random sample would
be best, it was not possible given
the time and other resources to
conduct a random sample.
• Three classes from NNMC were
chosen. The classes were
purposively selected to include
GED as well as First Years
Experience to provide a
comparison between levels of
students.
• The qualitative data indicated that
even though many responants
selected many types of violence
they witnessed only 13 felt
comfortable enough to give detail
to the type of violence they
witnessed.
Theory
• In theory children who witness
domestic violence place all their
energy to not stay surrounded by
domestic violence. Whether they
prefer to stay highly involved with
school programs or to quit school and
be anywhere but where the violence
originated.
• Children that are raised in homes
where the mother is constantly being
physically abused by the father are at
a 30 percent to 40 percent higher risk
for psychopathology than are children
who have only been exposed to
neighborhood violence
Hypothesis
Because familial domestic violence will
greatly affect their experiences,
• school may thus be regarded as a
safer place.
• the students will then either have
greater school performance, or,
alternatively, that the traumatic
incidents will negatively influence
their ability to concentrate.
• Null hypothesis states there will be
no relationship between the
negative effects and the amount of
violence witnessed to cause these
negative effects.
Physical
Emotional
Economic
Psychological
Sexual
Fight a lot (N=5)
• Because the N size was small,
(N=34), results are suggestive
rather than confirmatory, as is
generally the case for exploratory
research such as this one.
Father abused sister
My grandma would hit
me
Would hit her & tell her mean words
Men thought they could hit their wives
Alcohol (N=2)
• Because of ethical concerns, the
survey was retrospective, that is,
NNMC college students were
surveyed regarding their
experiences as children.
• The literature argues that
Witnessing marital violence and
being a victim of child
maltreatment, both have the
potential for negative outcomes
in a child’s development
(Graham-Bermann, 2001).
Fight, Yelling, Rape
•All respondents were assured that
their responses were anonymous,
voluntary and confidential.
•All principles of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) were
strongly applied throughout the
research process.
Conclusions
• Although this research contained
limitations, this research will prove a
substantial amount of significant
value to the protection of the
battered and the children who
witness the battering. By bringing
awareness to those who feel they
are helpless in an issue such as
domestic violence, and could
possibly direct them to the many
resources that are available to
children both in and out of schools,
and also for the adults suffering from
this terrible form of trauma.
• An interesting finding is that even
though some respondents reported
not witnessing domestic violence,
they did report feeling a great sense
of peace and serenity in the school
setting. Considering the sensitive
nature, participants may feel
uncomfortable answering certain
questions or sharing personal
matters.
• Further research would include a
larger sample size and take an indepth look at the possible reasons
that students who reported no
domestic violence felt safer at
school.
References
Mind games, Name calling, Put downs, Fights about money (N=2)
Dysfunctional Family
N=13
• The quantitative data indicated that
8 out of 15 or 53.33% felt safe at
school, whether they witnessed
domestic violence or not.
Table 6: Did you successfully complete each grade k-12?
Yes –
–
Ethics
No –
Total –
–
Q5: Yes
53.33%
8
46.67%
7
15
–
Q5: No
27.27%
3
72.73%
8
11
–
Total Respondents
11
15
26
• Babbie, Earl R. The Practice of Social
Research. 13th ed. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013.
Print.
• Graham-Bermann, S.A. & Edleson, J.
L. (2001). Domestic Violence in the
Lives of Children. Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association
• Thompson, H.E., & Trice-Black, S.
(2012). School-Based Interventions
for Children Exposed to Domestic
Violence. Journal of Family Violence,
27:233-241. DOI:1007/S10896-012941690-6
Acknowledgements
A special thank you to the NNMC
instructors; Emily Par, Annette M.
Rodriguez, and Harinamsimran
Khalsa. also the Student Success
Center and all NNMC staff.