• Domestic abuse can affect everyone in a family, not just the victim.Portrait eines traurigen Kindes image by HumerMedia from Fotolia.com
  
  Spousal abuse, also known as domestic abuse, can be physical or emotion and often affects an entire family, not just the person being abused. Children in particular experience the strain, struggle and pain of domestic abuse they witness in their household. These effects can be apparent at school and elsewhere. The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence breaks down the side effects of abuse on a victims' families in the following categories.
  
  

Physical Effects

• Children who witness spousal abuse in their homes may show physical signs including excessive tiredness, nervousness, anxiety or frequent illness. They may also often complain of physical pain, have short attention spans or display poor hygiene.
  
  

Behavioral Effects

• Domestic abuse can have behavioral effects on children as well. Children may act out when interacting with others or even abuse themselves. They may become passive, aggressive, excessively dependent or moody. They can also develop unusual habits, such as wetting the bed, refusing to go to school, lying or seeking constant attention.
  
  

Emotional Effects

• If they are witnessing domestic violence, children can experience a range of extreme or unusual emotions, including grief, shame, guilt, confusion, fear, anger, embarrassment or depression.
  
  

Social Effects

• There may also be a change in the way children interact with their friends, peers and other people in their lives. They may try to isolate themselves from everyone, including loved ones, or avoid leaving their home. They may have trouble trusting people or develop poor anger management. They may also engage in relationships that mimic the abusive one they've seen.