Children are affected by everything their parents say and do. Witnessing domestic violence can have adverse effects on children’s psychological and emotional development. However, a research study from 2017 to 2020, of which Associate Professor at CityU’s Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences Dr Anna CHOI Wai-man was the principal investigator, reveals that a considerable number of students in Hong Kong have witnessed domestic violence.
Photo 1: Dr Anna Choi Wai-man (fourth from the left) conducted a survey to evaluate the situation of children witnessing domestic violence in Hong Kong, and the outcome of Harmony House’s Project Smart Kids.
The study was conducted for the Harmony House, a local anti-domestic violence service agency, to evaluate its Project Smart Kids, which aims at helping children witnessing domestic violence and breaking the cycle of intergeneration domestic violence. One of the core services of this project was the “Harmony Express” mobile emotional education service. During the project period, a vehicle dedicated to the services brought emotional education to 18 local primary schools, and 3,102 questionnaires were collected from primary one to four students. According to the analysis of Dr Choi’s team, over 57.5% of students have witnessed quarrels among parents, and 27% of students have heard or seen parents fighting. 31.9% of the students felt hurt emotionally because of the arguments or fights among parents. As well, over half of the students reported that they have been left unattended at home.
Therapeutic storytelling workshops and music/expressive art therapeutic workshops are also key to the project. The former incorporated storytelling in emotional education, while the latter allowed students to learn to express their emotions through a combination of different art forms, such as visual arts, music, drama, and body movements. The research team has successfully collected 238 questionnaires from students aged 4 to 6 during the therapeutic storytelling workshops, and 392 questionnaires from students aged 4 to 12 during the music/expressive art therapeutic workshops. Both sets of questionnaires showed that around 40% of students have witnessed quarrels or fights among parents. In addition, around one-quarter of students have been scolded or even beaten by their parents.
The good news is that many students showed interest in these therapeutic workshops. They have understood emotions better and gained skills in managing emotions. Moreover, they are more willing to seek help when necessary.
In addition to recommendations on project execution and modes of intervention, the research team also suggests that support and emotional education for parents should be strengthened. It can be achieved by, for example, teaching them the ways to get along with their children, and engaging them in therapeutic storytelling workshops and music/expressive art therapeutic workshops that they can join together with their children. Public education, research and advocacy are also vital.
Cover photo: Childrenoften feel hurt when they hear or see parents arguing or fighting.
