Child abuse continues to be a problem of epic proportions in the United States. Roughly 7000,000 cases are reported each year (Yang et al., 2013). The abuse may consist of neglect, emotional, sexual, or physical abuse which can threaten a child’s health and well-being. No matter what kind of abuse a child endures, there are consequences for the child, victim, and society. All states have laws against child abuse; however, every state’s definition of child abuse differs. In some states, child abuse can be the effects of a parent’s indirect actions, such as fighting in front of the child or using drugs in front of the child. For different reasons, the abuse is not always reported. Many times, this may be due to the fact that laws differ as to what constitutes child abuse. Cognitive therapy has proven to be a successful therapy for children who have experienced child abuse. Most often, this therapy …show more content…
This is an alarming rate, considering many cases go unreported. The abuse has the potential of carrying lifelong devastating effects. Victims of child abuse often exhibit many problems such as depression, suicidal thoughts or alcohol, and drug addiction. Children who are abused are more likely to repeat the vicious cycle with their own children and more likely to get involved in unhealthy relationships (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). Child abuse does not discriminate. It occurs in all socioeconomic levels, races, and cultures. Since laws differ from state to state, it is not always clear what constitutes as child abuse. It is important to know what child maltreatment is and the warning signs involved. While various signs of abuse are clear others are not as obvious. Child maltreatment is an issue around the world and the effects can last a life time (World Health Organization, 2016). Therefore, the research problem is child abuse and the consequences it
Child Abuse is a worldwide issue, children are being abused on a daily basis. Child abuse occurs more often than people think. Child abuse comes in many forms such as: emotional, physi-cal, sexual, neglect, and verbal abuse. In the study by Carpenter, Shattuck, Tyrka, Geracioti, and Price (2011), the reader can see how child abuse can alter the whole way someone looks at the world. Child abuse is a serious problem that affects even the victim 's family or friends. Victims of child abuse show many signs of the trauma they have faced.
Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon that needs urgent attention. Kopp and Miltenberger (2008) in their study evaluated the validity and acceptability of using role-plays to assess sexual abuse prevention skills.
Human service professionals are required to report all cases regarding alleged child abuse and neglect. They work diligently to assist children and families through events that are often traumatic. While they work hard to provide assistance, it is important for them to be prepared to provide community resources to families and individuals who may or may not agree with receiving help.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3.3 million referrals for alleged maltreatment were made in 2013. Out of the 3.3 million referrals, 899,000 children were officially documented as being maltreated(Child Abuse & Neglect 2015). Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child. Child abuse is recognized in several forms; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Children who experience any form of abuse will tend to withdraw themselves from their peers and sometimes from other family members who are not aware of what is taking place. Child abuse occurs not just in the homes of these children, but can also occur in schools, churches and after school programs. Anywhere a child is present there is a chance that abuse can occur. This paper will review the forms of child abuse, the effects of child abuse, reasons child abuse occurs and possible therapies to bring healing in the parties involved.
Child abuse or maltreatment of children can occur in all families, despite their social class or status, race or religion. Families from all walks of life can experience child abuse or maltreatment. There is no single cause for child abuse, whereas, many factors can contribute to child maltreatment. Many forces combined together,
Child abuse consists of any act or failure to act that endangers a child’s physical or emotional health and development. A person caring for a child is abusive if he or she fails to nurture the child, physically injures the child, or relates sexually to the child (Robins). Child abuse is broken down into four major categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Aside from the abuse itself, the cost of the tragic events costs the United States billions of dollars each year. Every day, approximately 4 children in the United States die resulting from child abuse and the majority are under 5-years-old (Fromm). There are many organizations that promote preventative measures in reducing child abuse. If nothing is done, child abuse will continue to rise with many consequences in the future.
There are many forms of childhood maltreatment. All of which can and do cause both physical and mental issues to the victims. Childhood physical abuse can cause grave physical injuries and even death. Children who are physically abused are more likely to experience cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems as they grow up, such as depression, anxiety, misbehavior, substance abuse problems, and can grow up to be abusers themselves. Many people have a hard time understanding why anyone would hurt a child. Most abusers love their children, but they have less patience then other parents. But the truth is that many children learn violent behavior from their parents and then grow up to be abusers themselves. There is evidence that physical child
According to Tennyson Center for Children, “A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds in the U.S.” (“Child Abuse in America”). One cannot fathom the idea of why anyone would intentionally hurt the innocent children of today’s society. Child abuse happens with children of all ages, gender, and religions. Likewise, the world can be identified as a harsh place, where child abuse occurs around the world, and is even evident in the United States. There are many factors that contribute to this repulsive behavior. Physical, sexual, and psychological cruelty are effects of child abuse.
Effects can vary from health issues to developmental and emotional impairments. According to the Centers for Control and Prevention (CDC), survivors of child maltreatment suffer from health effects their entire lives, facing an estimated $32,648 in medical expenses as children and roughly $10,530 as adults. Reaffirming these assertions is the Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the U.S. Children’s Bureau, which reports that people who were abused as children generally experience poorer physical health throughout their lives compared to their non-abused counterparts; they are at higher risk of having arthritis, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and ulcers, among other things. A Duke University study also found that those who were victims of violence as children tend to age more rapidly and are predicted to live shorter lives than those who were not. In addition to the health complications, child abuse victims are also at an elevated risk of developing problematic behaviors. They are more likely to evolve as violent or antisocial, become juvenile delinquents or drug users, or assume risky sexual behaviors. The Child Welfare Information Gateway indicates that victims, compared to non-victims, are 11 times more likely to be jailed for criminal behavior as a juvenile, 2.7 times more likely to be jailed for violent and criminal behavior as an adult, and 3.1 times more likely to be jailed for
Child abuse in general is quite complex and at the same time one of the most challenging social issue facing people all around the USA. Child abuse cases have been recorded in all the states of the USA. The cases occur in all areas be it cities, small towns, suburbs, and even in rural areas. The vice also happens in all types of families regardless of the ethnic origin of the family or the even family income (UNICEF, 2015). It is thus important that effort is put into reducing cases of child abuse.
The mistreatment of children is classified by four types of actions: physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. Although, in recent years several steps have been taken to prevent the maltreatment of children it seems that child abuse is still prevalent in today's society. Countless children around the world suffer from some form of abuse and in many cases the same child experiences more than one. There is no exact number of victims because it difficult to measure the exact amount of children going through abuse. Child abuse almost always occurs in private, and because abuse is often hidden from view and its victims may be too young or too frightened to speak out, experts in child welfare suggest that its true prevalence
When the topic of abuse comes up, many different forms of abuse pop into individuals heads. Whether its Physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse or even drug abuse, the list just keeps going. Now take all those different forms abuse and imagine them happening in a family. A father physically abusing his children, a mother verbally berating her daughter about her body image, a child growing up in fear. According to the research by David Wolfe in the Journal of Consulting and clinical Psychology, that the number of children that have suffered a physical injury due to physical abuse is between 1.4 and 1.9 million annually. With such a high number of physical abuse happening to children, one can imagine how high the number of all the
In USA, there are more than three million report of child abuse every year. It is the highest number than other countries. As the result of child abuse, children are more likely to drink and smoke at young age, face depression or at least one psychological
One of the most obvious and damaging results of child abuse is death; however, research illustrating the effects on a growing child who has been abused has demonstrated many other lifelong negative factors (Felitti, Anda, Nordenberg, Williamson, Spitz, Edwards, Koss, Marks, 1998). In consonance children who suffer from abuse can show signs of depression, social withdraw, and even violent behavior. As a child grows older, they may suffer from poor physical health, such as high blood pressure, obesity, stress, and psychological disorders and disabilities (Herronkohl, T., Hong, Klika, and Herronkohl, R., 2013). Child abuse and neglect have also been associated with depression, anger disorders, and post-traumatic
Child abuse is one of the highest growing social problems in the United States. A social problem is, “a condition that a significant number of people believe to be a problem. A condition in which there is a sizable difference between the ideals of a society and its actual achievements” (Coleman et al. 2006:2). However, society has changed the way it views the issue, and is working towards finding a solution to this awful problem. Child abuse encompasses four main areas: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Child abuse is considered a sociological phenomenon because it is a learned behavior. Learning the social patterns as to why people abuse will give a better understanding to its reasons, and also the development of society in the way that it views children. 3.6 million children were victims of abuse in the year 2006. Sixty four percent were victims of neglect, sixteen percent suffered from physical abuse, and eight percent were sexually abused. Also in 2006, 1,530 children died as a result of abuse; an average of four children everyday (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2008).