Abuse: How It Effects Cognitive Development and Prevention Methods

Symptoms that adults that suffer from childhood traumatic occurrence might display include “sleep problems, increased agitation, hypervigilance, isolation or withdrawal, and increased use of alcohol or drugs. Older adults may exhibit increased withdrawal and isolation, reluctance to leave home, worsening of chronic illnesses, confusion, depression, and fear” (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, 2014). There symptoms are the negative impact that childhood traumatic experience have on the social development for this population. Initially, victims may not know they are traumatized until they seek assistance. Many of the resurfacing of trauma for adults takes a while because it has become a long term issue that has been normalized or

physical abuse may result in a hip fracture).Individuals who experience physical abuse often get threatened, harassed and as a result of this abuse they often experience emotional stress such as worry, depression, shame, guilt, isolation, low self-esteem post-traumatic stress syndrome or anxiety. These signs may be prolong and contribute to memory loss or other illnesses. An older adult may also feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment that someone in the family or someone close has harmed them and therefore they wouldn't want to disclose or share this information with anyone, in the case of. Some abused older adults may start to eat less, use more medications or drink more alcohol to help cope with the emotional and physical hurt. They may have difficulty sleeping or sleep too much. Some abused elderly individuals may have a decreased social life and therefore loose interest in life or become withdrawn (disengagement theory) and some may have suicidal thoughts.

Childhood and adolescence is a crucial time for humans- a time full of physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Upon observing the significant impact that trauma induced stress can have on adults following time in combat or an injury, when adults have fully matured in all areas, it raises the question of what influence post-traumatic stressors can have on development in children. This issue was so significant that in the DSM-5, the psychologists introduced a new, and separate, section of criteria for PTSD that specifically relates to the preschool subtype, or those individuals six years and younger. The first age specific sub-type for this disorder is important due to the rising number of studies and cases of PTSD in children.

In the immediate, as well as long-term aftermath of exposure to trauma, children are at risk of developing significant emotional and behavior difficulties (CWIG, 2012). The most damaging types of trauma include early physical and sexual abuse, neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, exposure to domestic violence and other forms of child maltreatment (Hoch, 2009). Research has shown that children that are exposed to these types of trauma will experience developmental delays including language and verbal processing. Also, they will have risk of poor physiological and psychosocial functioning, and will be vulnerable to emotional and behavioral dysregulation disorders, thus, leading to an increase risk of poor outcomes including substance abuse, suicidality, teen pregnancy and paternity, criminal activity, and revictimization (Hoch, 2009).

Gibb and Chelminski (2007) examined childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and the diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders in adult psychiatric outpatients. Research showed that major depression are strongly related to the reports of childhood emotional abuse than to physical or sexual abuse. According to Rose and Abramson [1992] “The experiences of childhood emotional abuse, the children may begin to make more negative attributions, which then may develop into a more general negative attributional style that would contribute vulnerability to depression”.

The article also points out that this cycle of abuse keeps going in some form or another. The article states, “when mothers experience physical abuse in childhood, they are more vulnerable to experiencing depressive symptoms shortly after the birth of their child, which is in turn associated with children’s development of their own difficulties with mood and affect regulation.” (2015). This serves to back up the idea of an unbreakable cycle of abuse done by the parents and so

removed from the family environment, a primary relative had to relocate or the death or destruction (e.g. fatal accident, domestic violence, natural disaster) of a close individual (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)The fourth factor emphasizes that age may be a factor in children’s responses to traumatic events which thus determines the course of therapy (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)Very young children struggle with cognitive components of cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies because it exceeds their developmental capabilities (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)As previously noted, a child is at a greater risk for the effects of severe sexual abuse in the first years of life (Faust & Katchen, 2004). (Faust et al., 2004)

Ford (2009) describes the effects of trauma in childhood in the context of brain changing from learning to survival mode, which leads the individual who experienced trauma to be on high elert, more reactive, and unable to regulate their emotions. According to Ford (2003, p. 31), the developmental areas that get affected due to trauma are "1] attention and learning; [2] working (short-term), declarative (verbal), and narrative (autobiographical) memory; [3] emotion regulation; [4] personality formation and integration; and [5] relationships (attachment)"

The pervasiveness of these correlations is high and suggesting childhood trauma could play a major role in the psychological health of a person later in adulthood, and there have many studies which have been conducted that could support these theories.

In general, traumatic events effects children throughout different times in their adolescence (Alisic, 2012; Deihl, 2013; Little & Little, 2013; Walkey & Cox, 2013). For example, the Mental Health of Tarrant County (2012) revealed that “26% will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn four years of age and more than 13% of students report being abused” (p. 1). Children’s reaction to trauma is different from how adults react (Bennett et al., 2014; Elzy et al., 2013; Garfin et al., 2014; Walkey & Cox, 2013; West et al., 2014). Traumatic events can lead children to events that cause suspensions and maybe eventually dropping out of school (Porche et al., 2011). Researchers found exposure to traumatic events early cause problems

After interviewing with Elizabeth Domingos-Shepard, MFT, I was able to gain a better understanding of the impact trauma has on a child, physically, biologically, and emotionally. Elizabeth (2016) explained that trauma can alter the chemistry of one’s brain by stating, “There is evidence in research that the brain actually is affected by trauma. It can alter the develop of the brain during significant periods of growth, particularly in the first years of life as well as in adolescence. For example, in cases of severe neglect, the brain doesn 't grow as the rate it should due to lack of exposure to appropriate stimuli. However, with early intervention, the child can potentially catch up in brain development. This is due to the concept of neuroplasticity.” The actual removal of children from their caretaker can, “be as impactful or more impactful that the reason why they were re moved to begin with (abuse or neglect) (Domingos-Shepard, 2016). Elizabeth (2016) stresses the importance of assessment when dealing with a child who has experienced any trauma and that assessment is always ongoing. In details to how trauma impacts a child cognitively, physically, and emotionally, Elizabeth (2016) informs that children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect, may have a single incident of trauma or multiple incidents with they may experience a number of emotional, cognitive or physical consequences of trauma, such as brain development delays, development of an insecure attachment

The key concept of this literature review is to better understand how childhood trauma is associated with mental health, such as post-traumatic stress disorder

Research shows that many brain and hormonal changes may occur as a result of early, prolonged trauma, and contribute to troubles with learning, memory, and regulating emotions. Combined with a disruptive, abusive home environment, these brain and hormonal changes may contribute to severe behavioral difficulties (“Post-Traumatic” 1).

A study performed at The University of Texas shows that early traumatic events in a child’s life that last longer than 6 months, influences the neural framework of that individual. These disturbances that occur in the neural framework are linked to an individual having a greater possibility of developing a substance abuse and depression (Szalavitz, 2012). Unfortunately, an adolescent who has been or is being abused is trying to escape from the memories and feelings that the abuse provokes in him or her. When you take these negative feelings into consideration and add it to the turmoil a teenager who hasn’t experienced abuse or neglect of any type is experiencing, it is easy to understand the enormous battle the abused or neglected adolescent is going through.

The researchers advance the scientific knowledge base by adding to the current knowledge, contributed to the theory, and met the qualifications for a valuable research (Capella, 2016). According to Reising et al., (2016), the study was to address parental depression, social economic status (SES), and community disadvantage for internal and external issues in children and adolescents. Also, taking to account that parental negligence is also a factor that is connected to the internal and external problems in children and adolescents. In addition, concurring to the previous research (Fear, et al., 2009) (Flynn & Rudolph 2011), (Lewis, Collishaw, Thapar, & Gordon, 2014), (McCarthy, Downes, & & Sherman), & (Sondheimer, MD, 2010), all came into