The impact of domestic violence on the academic performance of children

Running head: MASTERS IN EDUCATION STUDIES
The impact of domestic violence on the academic performance of children
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1MASTERS IN EDUCATION STUDIES
ABSTRACT
Domestic violence had emerged as one of the most common problems that the different
nation of the world are presently facing and this becomes even more pronounced from the
perspective of the different under-developed or developing nations because of the nature of
their society. More importantly, it is seen that the process of domestic violence had an
adverse affect on the academic performance of the children because of the fact that it is
hinders the effective growth or development of the children and also their psychosocial needs
as well. This is important from the perspective of the nations like Bhutan wherein it is seen
that the literacy rate is very low and also the educational opportunities available to the people
are very limited in nature. Thus, it can be said that the problem of domestic violence hinders
the effective utilisation of the limited educational opportunities which are available to the
children by adversely affecting their academic performance. However, in the recent times it is
seen that the national government of Bhutan had taken various initiatives for the resolution of
this issue yet the situation is far from ideal.
Key words- Domestic Violence, Academic Performance and Psychosocial Needs

2MASTERS IN EDUCATION STUDIES
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Definitions of Domestic violence and academic performance
Dorji et al. (2019) are of the viewpoint that the concept of domestic violence can be
defined as any form of abuse or violence committed against the individuals within a domestic
setting or environment. However, an important fact to note about domestic violence is that
the majority of the victims of domestic violence, that is, more than 91.7% are women and
children (Efevbera et al., 2018). In this regard, it needs to be said that the process of domestic
violence takes a significant amount of toll on the wellbeing as well as the psychology of the
victims and often hinders them from the fulfilment of their life goals (Fry & Blight, 2016).
For example, one of the most negative effects of the process of domestic violence is seen that
within the cannon of the academic performance of the children. As opined by Gershoff
(2017), the academic performance or achievement of the students refers to the extent to
which they had been able to attain the long-term as well as the short-term goals or objectives
that had been outlined for them. However, it is seen that the evil of domestic violence often
deters the children from attaining their academic goals or objectives.
1.2 Background of the topic
As opined by Mallett, (2017), children are the future of the world and the nations in
order to attain a higher level of growth or success must cater to the basic psychosocial needs
of the children like basic education, safe living environment, food and lodging, care and love
and others. Tran et al. (2016) are of the viewpoint that in the particular context of the
developing nations like Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and others it is seen that the
children are often deprived of their basic needs as well as rights. This in turn leads to
inadequate development in these children which in turn greatly stunts the growth as well as
the development of these children. More importantly, the high level of domestic violence

3MASTERS IN EDUCATION STUDIES
which exists among these nations have at the same time contributed to the lack of effective
fulfilment of the basic needs or the rights of the children (Ragavan et al., 2018).
One of the most important adverse effects of domestic violence is being witnessed in
the particular context of the academic performance of the children which in turn affects the
future prospects of these children since a sound academic performance is often considered to
be one of the founding pillars of future success (Fry & Blight, 2016). This is also important
from the perspective that the above mentioned nations still belong to the category of the
developing or the third world nations and are also failing to attain the basic minimum level of
growth which in turn is directly affecting the life of their citizens (McCoy, Raver & Sharkey,
2015).
1.3 Rationale for the study
The issue that the researcher intends to focus in this study is the “impact of domestic
violence on the academic performance of the children”. This is important because of the fact
that in the recent times it is seen that the evil of domestic violence is one of the major
inhibitors of the academic performance by hindering the effective fulfilment of their basic
psychosocial needs (Mistry et al., 2016). Furthermore, it is seen that a congenial domestic
environment is one of the prerequisites for the effective academic performance of the
students (Pinquart & Kauser, 2018). Therefore, if their domestic environment is an abusive or
violent then it is more likely that they will not be able to attain their academic goals or
objectives. This becomes especially important from the perspective of the developing nations
like Bhutan since in these nations the educational opportunities that are available to the
children is very limited and therefore it is likely that if they are victims of domestic violence
then they will not be able to utilise these limited opportunities in an objective manner (Penjor
et al., 2019). This study will be an important one because of the fact by showing the manner