Impact of Child Maltreatment on Growth and Development

2480 Words5 Pages

For our evidence based practice project, we chose the topic of child maltreatment. We wondered if child maltreatment affects the growth and development of school-age children. “The broad term child maltreatment includes intentional physical abuse or neglect, emotional abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse of children, usually by adults” (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk & Wilson, 2010, p. 1066). Child Protective Services agencies in the United States estimated that there were 900,000 children who were victims of child maltreatment in 2005. Of these confirmed cases, 17% were victims of physical abuse, 9% were victims of sexual abuse, 63% were victims of neglect, and 7% were victims of emotional abuse. The 2006 estimates indicated that about 1530 children died as a result of maltreatment (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk & Wilson, 2010, p. 1066). We hypothesized that child maltreatment does adversely affect the growth and development of school-age children.

School age children range from ages six to around twelve years old. During this time they experience many biological developments. Height and weight of the child continues to increase, with their weight doubling by the time the child is twelve years old compared to when he or she was six. School age children also face many developmental milestones in psychosocial, cognitive, moral, spiritual and social aspects. The developmental process of school age children can be characterized by using Kohlberg, Piaget, Erikson and Freud’s theories.

Moral development of a school age child is based on Kohlberg's theory. Children move from egocentricity to a more logical thinking as they grow. Children of about six or seven years old know the rules and behaviors that are expected of them unlike ch...

... middle of paper ...

...Abuse, Sexual: Biopsychosocial Indicators. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M.J., Lowdermiilk, D.L., & Wilson, D. "Chapter 38:The Preschooler and Family." Maternal Child Nursing Care (1043-1076). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier, 2010.

Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M.J., Lowdermiilk, D.L., & Wilson, D. "Chapter 39: The School-Age Child and Family." Maternal Child Nursing Care (1079-1087). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier, 2010.

Waite, R., Gerrity, P., & Arango, R. (2010). Assessment for and response to adverse childhood experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 48(12), 51-61. doi:10.3928/02793695-20100930-03

Wurtele, S. (2009). Preventing sexual abuse of children in the twenty-first century: preparing for challenges and opportunities. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 18(1), 1-18. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Open Document