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Negative impact of child abuse
Negative impact of child abuse
Causes and effects of child abuse
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Recommended: Negative impact of child abuse
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
Perpetrators of child abuse are most often the child’s own parents. A study done in 2005 showed 79.4 percent of perpetrators were parents, and 6.8 percent were other relatives. Almost 1 out of every 100 children in the United States are abused as a child and an average of 5 children die everyday from child abuse (USDHHS). Some cases may be more extreme than others, but child abuse still has a dramatic effect on a person’s life as it continues to affect the victim through their adolescence and into their adulthood. Not only does child abuse affect a person’s relationship life, but structuring them into who they become in life by altering specific triggers in their brain.
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.
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.
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 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.
Today child neglect is the largest part of child abuse in the United States, and almost two-thirds of all reported cases in child protective services is neglect (Dubowitz). Before the 1970’s child abuse mostly referred to physical abuse; however, now it encompasses physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect (Compton’s). Physical abuse is when a child is hurt by getting hit, punched, kicked, or any other form of beating by an adult (Compton’s). This abuse will only harm the child physically and though it is horrific and can lead to long term effects it will normally only lead to violence. Emotional abuse is when an adult is hateful to the child by calling him names, and another form of emotional abuse is when an adult is punishing a child in a way that will cause him mental trauma (Compton’s). Emotional abuse is terrible for the child’s self-esteem however they can go and learn that they are important to the world by their contributions. Sexual abuse is when a child is touched inappropriately or molested (Compton’s). This is detrimental to a child but in most cases the child will block this out for when they grow older it is like it never happened which will cause no harm to their mental state. Neglect is when an adult will not seek medical help for their child and will not provide them with food, shelter, clothing, or emotional support (Sullivan). This is where the real trauma takes place on a child. The child will not suffer from being hit but they suffer from starving until someone is kind enough to feed them or they die from malnutrition. The child will not suffer from a parent calling them names but they might never know if their parent knows their name or cares to even speak to th...
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
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.
Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children. There can be no single factor identified as the cause of child abuse. However it appears to be influenced by the parents' histories, psychological resources, and economic status.
There are many forms of physical abuse, such as, slapping, hitting, strangling, beating, kicking and sexual abuse. In many cases objects being thrown at a child that can injure them. Many times, physical abuse goes undiscovered because children tend to hurt themselves all the time anyway. According to the book, Violence the Enduring Problem states, “Many child victims are fearful or incapable of reporting their victimization to an authority figure. And Despite the mandatory reporting laws in place in all states, evidence of abuse and neglect can often remain hidden except for extreme cases, such as when broken bones and concussions require medical care” (170). Also, physical abuse is often explained away by adults as accidents. But according to Childhelp.org states, “A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. That in 2014, state agencies found an estimated 702,000 victims of physical child abuse” (Child Help). It is an epidemic that has plagued the United States for decades. Child abuse is an ever-growing social problem. Children that are physically abused have a high propensity to develop psychological disorders, such as, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. There is evidence about the mental health implications of physical abuse and environmental stressors that contribute to the ongoing
It could also lead in to their future and become more prominent in the coming years such as domestic violence, violence in general. “Every year an estimated 3.3 million to 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence in their home” Moylan, Carrie A., Herrenkohl, Todd I., Sousa, Cindy, Tajima, Emiko A., Herrenkohl, Roy C., Russo, M. Jean (2010). “Studies investigating the prevalence of child abuse find that almost 900,000 children are classified as maltreated by parents and other caretakers” Moylan et al. (2010). Teens who were abused as children are also more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior problems, such as delinquency and violence
There are many mental concerns associated with childhood abuse that can be major factors in the future of the child. Some children who have been abused go on to live balanced lives, whereas other struggle mentally in various aspects of life. A maltreated child has chances of showing symptoms of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, the necessity for social dominance, depression, dissociative identity disorder, as well a suicidal thoughts. Now, even though not only abused children develop into these various mental challenges, there are at a heightened exposure to these mental diseases as a result of their childhood trauma.
Child maltreatment can affect any child, usually aged 0-18, and it occurs across socioeconomic, religious, ethnic or even educational backgrounds. Arguably, child abuse and neglect is a violation of basic human rights of a child resulting from social, familial, psychological and economic factors (Kiran, 2011). Familial factors include lack of support, poverty, single parenthood, and domestic violence among others, (McCoy and Keen, 2009). The common types of child maltreatment include physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, neglect, and sexual abuse among others. Abuse and neglect can lead to a variety of impacts on children and young people such as physical, behavioral as well as psychological consequences which will affect the development and growth of the child either positively or negatively based on the environment and agency. More so, emotional, cognitive and physical developmental impacts from child neglect in the early stages of childhood can be carried on into adulthood. Research findings reveal that the experience of maltreatment can cause major long-term consequences on all aspects of a child’s health, growth as well as intellectual development and mental wellbeing, and these effects can impair their functioning as adults. Commonly, the act of abuse/ or neglect toward a child affects the child’s physical, behavioral development and growth, which can be positive or negative, depending on the child’s environment and agency. Another way to understand how the act has affected the child is to look at the child for who they are, and interviewing and observing their behaviors of their everyday life.
In the USA, there are more than three million reports of child abuse every year. It is the highest number in other countries. As the result of child abuse, children are more likely to drink and smoke at a young age, face depression or at least one psychological disorder, attempt suicide, use drugs, and become addicted to alcohol. In 2012, an estimated 1640 children died because of child abuse or neglect.
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).