They have a very good chance of developing post traumatic stress disorder, which can greatly interfere with their future life. The more severe, and the longer the abuse occurs, the more likely this is to occur. The child may develop a hate for all men, or all women (whichever does the abusing). Rarely, they may carry on the abuse against their own family or significant other. They may eventually involve themselves in self destructive behaviours to try and rid themselves of the memory. This can include drug abuse, self injury, reckless driving, and suicide attempts. If they do develop an irrational fear or hate of men or women (as they can not differentiate between their parent, and men or women as a whole.) it can interfere with their professional life, as well as their personal life. With post traumatic stress can come chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and chronic depression. However, if the abused parent is able to remove themselves and the child from the relationship, the child can get proper therapy that will keep the stress from developing to the point that they will resort to drinking and such. It is not an easy process at all, and can often require many sessions of traditional therapy with a trained therapist who specializes in PTSD, as well as children. On top of this, other therapies may be used to help the effectiveness of the talk therapy, such as guided imagery, acupuncture (to reduce any pain), as well as a number of other therapies which I can not even remember. Encouraging them to create art of any type can also be greatly helpful, as they may not be able to express in plain speech what they can in a photography, poem, story, or painting. If the post traumatic stress is not treated soon after the stressor occurs, the process is much the same, but much longer and much more involved. On top of the numerous therapies, people who have had PTSD for a while may require rehabilitation for drugs, alcohol, or self injury. If you would like to read about PTSD at all, read the book "invisible heroes" by belleruth naperstek (i probably spelled that wrong). It will explain a lot more than I could ever fit in this answer. Hope this helps.

I know someone who grew up in a home where his father physically abused his mother - and know that he is grown he has a drinking problem. Also angry a lot, and has relationship problems. ( he is not violent or abusive himself though.) hope that helps

I have very strong feelings about this. I think it can completely destroy a child's concept of adult relationships, for one thing. A little off-topic, but I feel the same way about parents who don't love each other and try to stay together 'for the children'. Kids are smart and dysfunctional relationships affect them. It causes a lot of fear, anger, and horrible worry that children shouldn't have to deal with. It's also well-known that children from abusive parental relationships either abuse or find themselves abused in their own adult relationships. Children who grow up in such situations are psychologically damaged. There is simply no way around it. It has a negative effect on everything from their school work and grades, to their interpersonal relationships. Some of them get through it and are amazingly dedicated to breaking the cycle, but far more of them never completely recover, even with counseling. It's a stigma that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

They see that as accetable behavior & either become abusers or victims of abuse themselves because that's what mommy & daddy taught them.

My mother is a Felony Domestic Violence Victim's Advocate for the State Attorney's office in Florida. She has never dealt with a vic or a perp who didn't come from an abusive home so I would have to say that the child either turns into an abuser or a victim.

The effects of domestic violence on children is devastating. The emotional and psychological effects for the children are huge. In Australia if a child live in a home where the parents engage in violence against each other it is actually classed as a child protection issues and the children can be removed from the home.

Adolf Hitler's Dad abused his mother. He was horrible towards her. His father was hard on Hitler and his mother was soft on him. Look how he turned out.

Children look to parents for moddels of adult behaviour. If a man abuses his wife, then the child seees this as normal. When he/she grows up, they naturally take on the role of the parent they identified with.

I think the way the parent who is being abused handles it makes a big difference in how it affects the child. It is harmful regardless.