Articolo speciale
Violenza domestica assistita: effetti sullo sviluppo del bambino e implicazioni cliniche per i pediatri
Witnessing domestic violence: effects on child development and clinical implication for paediatricians
Alessandro Albizzati1, Cristina Riva Crugnola2, Elena Ierardi2
1UONPIA Territoriale e Psicopatologia dell’Età Evolutiva, ASST “Santi Paolo e Carlo”, Milano
2Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca
Gennaio 2021 - pagg. 25 -30 | DOI: 10.53126/MEB40025
Abstract
Witnessing domestic violence may have serious negative consequences for the health, development and well-being of children. Only recently, witnessing domestic violence has been evaluated as a form of child maltreatment, considering the effects it may have within the family. Domestic violence is a complex and lasting experience that often results in interruptions, losses and challenges for the meaningful relationships of children. Children have very often feelings of fear, worry, guilt, helplessness and sadness and adopt strategies to deal with such traumatic situations. Moreover, children exposed to domestic violence have a high risk of having delays in cognitive, psychic, emotional and physical development with school and social interaction difficulties, internalising and externalising problems, learning disorders, aggressive behaviour and post-traumatic symptoms. Therefore, it is critical to early identify the signals that children show to help them and their family get out of the violent and abusive environment.
Riassunto
La violenza domestica assistita può avere gravi conseguenze negative per la salute, lo sviluppo e il benessere dei bambini. Solo recentemente la violenza assistita è definita come una forma di maltrattamento nei confronti del bambino, considerando gli effetti che può avere all’interno della famiglia. La violenza domestica è un'esperienza complessa e duratura che spesso si traduce in interruzioni, perdite e sfide per le relazioni significative dei bambini. Molto spesso i bambini hanno sentimenti di paura, preoccupazione, colpa, impotenza e tristezza e mettono in atto strategie per fronteggiare tali situazioni traumatiche. Inoltre, i bambini esposti alla violenza domestica hanno un elevato rischio di avere ritardi nello sviluppo cognitivo, psichico, emotivo e fisico con difficoltà scolastiche e di interazione sociale, problematiche internalizzanti ed esternalizzanti, disturbi di apprendimento, comportamenti aggressivi e sintomi post-traumatici. Fondamentale è indentificare precocemente i segnali che il bambino manifesta per poter aiutare il bambino e la famiglia a uscire dall’ambiente violento e abusante.
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Corrispondenza: alessandro.albizzati@asst-santipaolocarlo.it