Child Abuse and Revictimization

As Nitu (2012) notes, many women who are in abusive relationships have a true fear of further violence if they leave, attempt to leave, or seek help in dealing with an abusive relationship. These fears transcend their fears for their own personal safety and move onto their fears of abuse to their children, if any are present. As a society, we have the right to ask that question. As of 2003, domestic violence was costing the United States over 8 billion dollars, with over 1 billion of that cost being for fatalities due to domestic violence situations (Nitu, 2012). Furthermore, the risk for children who are present in abusive relationships rise as well.

Child abuse as a life-course social determinant of adult health. Maturitas, 66(1), 51-55. Larkin, H. (2009). Adverse childhood experiences linked to health risk behaviors. Policy and Practice of Public Human Services, 67(3), 14-16.

Many do not heal without years of therapy from a traumatic experience. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, an estimated 777,200 children were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect by a protective service agency in the United States in 2008, and 9.1% of these children were determined to have been sexually abused (Draucker, 2011). Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a prevalent problem in the United States that is associated with many long term psychological, behavioral, social and physical effects on men and women (Draucker, 2011). These effects can make a person’s life a living hell. They turn someone into a person that they may not have been if the tragic event didn’t happen to them.

“Teen Pregnancy Risks.” 27 February 2014. Web. Widom, Cathy Spatz, and Joseph B. Kuhns. “Childhood Victimization and Subsequent Risk for Promiscuity, Prostitution, and Teenage Pregnancy: A Prospective Stud.” American Journal of Public Health 86.11 (1996): 1607-12. ProQuest.

(2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal Of Family Violence, 25(1), 53-63. Sternberg, K. J., Lamb, M. E., Greenbaum, C., Cicchetti, D., Dawud, S., Cortes, R. M., Krispin, O., & Lorey, F. (1993). Effects of domestic violence on children's behavior problems and depression.

Horowitz, B., and Wollock, I. Maternal deprivation, child maltreatment and agency interventions among poor families. In L. Pelton, eds. The Social Context of Child Abuse and Neglect. Human Sciences Press, 1981. 7.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(2), 262-271. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01537 Kamsner, S., & McCabe, M. P. (2000). The relationship between adult psychological adjustment and childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, and family-of-origin characteristics. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15(12), 1243-1261. doi:10.1177/088626000015012001 Starr, R., & Wolfe, D. A. (1991). Life-span developmental outcomes of child maltreatment.

The effects of neglect can be just as damaging as the effects of other types of abuse on children and especially on those whose brains are in the early stages of development. One the biggest challenges in regards of the definition of neglect are that it varies amount social service professionals, justice system, the medical community and even across the different juris... ... middle of paper ... ...fm Goldman, J., Salus, M. K., Wolcott, D., Kennedy, K. Y. (2003). A coordinated response to child abuse and neglect: The foundation for practice. Retrieved from Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau website: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundationc.cfm Dunn, D. & Craig, G.J., & (2013).

Long-term impact of parental divorce on intimate relationship quality in adulthood and the mediating role of psychosocial resources. Journal Of Family Psychology, 25(4), 615-619. doi:10.1037/a0023996 Størksen, I., Røysamb, E., Holmen, T. L., & Tambs, K. (2006). Adolescent adjustment and well-being: Effects of parental divorce and distress. Scandinavian Journal Of Psychology, 47(1), 75-84. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00494.x Wallerstein, J., Lewis, J., & Packer Rosenthal, S. (2013). Mothers and their children after divorce: Report from a 25-year longitudinal study.

6 Dec. 2013. Walker, Monique D., Ana M. Hernandez, and Maureen Davey. "Childhood Sexual Abuse And Adult Sexual Identity Formation: Intersection Of Gender, Race, And Sexual Orientation." American Journal Of Family Therapy 40.5 (2012): 385-398. Academic Search Premier.