Do the Holidays Incite Domestic Violence?

While many people enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the holidays aren't favored by everyone.

Experts say that stress from the holidays can actually lead to more incidents of domestic violence, especially if there is already a history of violence or abuse in the family.

It is believed that the pressure to constantly be happy and cheerful can cause someone crack and express their frustrations through violence.  Another cause? Money. Especially during these hard economic times, not everyone has enough money to buy presents for friends and loved ones.  Feeling strapped for cash can not only be stressful, but many people also feel angry when they can't afford to buy gifts when they want to or feel they are expected to.   This may cause them to act out through violence.

In other cases the holidays stir up deep seeded emotions that have been suppressed.  When these emotions come to the surface, an individual may not know how to handle them, consequently taking out their feelings and emotions by hurting others.

Brian O'Connor of the Family Violence Protection Fund agrees.

"The holiday season and just the overall pace of it, that really compounds some of the deeper-seeded issues around, say, a history of violence," said O'Connor.