Child Abuse And Its Effects On Children

Back in the day there were not as many child protecting laws and assisting facilities like there are today. In 1960’s there was very little information as it relates to child abuse. A Canadian psychologist by the name of William L. Marshall said, “you could read all the information in one morning. With the lack of information there was no way for individuals to readily identify what constituted as child abuser. Child abuse before 1875 was in fact the era before child services were created to protect the children.

Childhood is where a person’s life begins and forms. Once a child is exposed to violence or is abused, it stays with them forever. A child’s brain forms daily and they are always ready to learn. So if they are taught love and care or violence and cruelty then they will sure learn this and mimic it. Once a child experiences any type of abuse they should get treated professionally as soon as possible because the longer they wait to get treated the more risk they run to have emotional problems later in their life. Child abuse affects every child no matter where they are from or how they live. For example as they grow little by little they will have trouble trying to express their feelings. This can lead to anxiety later in their lives.

In addressing child abuse we are confronted with a series of problems. On the one hand, there is a lack of the true extent of the phenomenon because no data are available and that the issue, often refers to the most intimate spaces of family life. Furthermore, cultural and historical traditions affect the way each society faces this problem. Finally, there are varying opinions as to its definition and classification, as well as the consequences of child abuse may have and its subsequent therapeutic management.

One million children in forty- eight states were victims of substantiated child abuse and neglect in 1994 (Child - Abuse Prevention 1). Out of all the abuse allegations in 2000 only 879,000 cases were able to be proved. Which approximately 1200 children died as a result of child abuse or neglect and forty-four percent of these were younger than one years old. Defenseless children are severely abused constantly every year across the United States, leaving life -long negative effects on their futures. By educating our youth about the impact their words and physical abuse can cause someone, our future generations will have an understanding of why they should handle their aggression.

Every year over 3 million reports of child abuse are made involving more than 6 million children. The United States has one of the worst records of child abuse losing 4-7 children a day to the abuse. Abuse is when any behavior or action that is used to scare, harm, threaten, control or intimidate another person. Child abuse is a behavior outside the norms of conduct and entails substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm. There are four main types of child abuse; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.

No one ever thinks it will happen to them, or to anyone that they know. It is a tragic event that can be life changing. “More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse(AmericanSPCC,2015).” There are five main types of abuse and they are neglect, physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, and medical neglect. The most common one according to the American humane society is neglect with sixty-two point eight percent. “Boys and girls are equally likely to suffer maltreatment (American Humane, 2013).” It can happen to anyone it does not matter the gender.

A recent study has found that five children die daily, due to abuse and neglect. According to the World Health Organization, “Studies show that psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior are side effects of violence towards infants and younger children. Some of damaging behavior caused by abuse includes the following: Depression, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, anxiety disorders, aggression and violence towards others, risky sexual behaviors and post-traumatic stress disorders” (Violence and Injury Prevention ). This document will examine the psychological effects of child maltreatment.

The cognitive effects of child abuse range from attentional problems and learning disorders to severe organic brain syndromes.

Child abuse is any behavior which, by action or omission, produces physical or psychological damage to a person less than 18 years, affecting the development of his personality. In homes, it is believed that the most effective way to educate children is using the abuse. This form of punishment it used as an instrument of correction and moral training strategy as it is the first and most persistent justification of damage and maltreated mothers parents inflict on their children. Society has to give importance to this phenomenon that is sweeping away our most valuable asset, our children who are in the midst of conflict and are in most cases bear the brunt. Children who are abused has a different formation of a normal child, the only thing that causes this is that as adults behave like they were treated in childhood. It has been seen that the character and personality that has parents will do the same as inculcated to the children in their formation, with this reference is made that if children are a vulnerable treatment of their parents will develop a different from the way a normal child; that 's just what might happen with a child since he began his life has seen and been mistreated by relatives whatsoever. The child will store information as it grows and reflected in the other all that has lived. All that experience will transform into a particular adult abused child like a child develops in a normal

The consequences of maltreatment can be devastating. The consequences of abuse and the failure to take care of their child or children affect the victims themselves and the society in which they live in. it is important, crucial even, to further investigate child abuse because it could tell us a lot about the thoughts in our society and the value of children to people. We should put stock into what children must say because it is always difficult in legal situations when children are involved because we think so little of what they should say. Therefore, being exposed to child abuse can lead into delinquency. The affects of child abuse are plentiful, particularly in relation to their physical, psychological and emotional needs and development. In addition to the damage caused to these aspects, this also can turn abused children to lives of delinquency. Physical consequences range from minor damage to severe brain damage and even death. Psychological consequences range from chronic low self-esteem to severe dissociative states. Behaviourally, the consequences of abuse range from poor peer relations all the way to extreme violent behaviours.

In the real world, it is hard to help stop child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect remain serious and global problems. This can happened anytime anywhere quickly. Further, it is a challenge for us to stop this. Because of my interest in the Medical nursing field, I am especially curious about the Child abuse epidemic in the United States and other country. For past decade, lots of kids suffered from child abuses or harsh punishment. These is not only in the United States but it’s happened around the world. In a recent year, medical association, health & medicine, and medical science show the problems of children, abuses have been growing in the United States and other country. Abuses can cause a mental disorder for everyone. Researcher used “contemporary, nationally representative data to test the prevalence types of child abuse and their association with mental conditions, including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.” In a period of time most people agree that this issue deserve attention, and find out how to respond to the problem.

Child abuse is a major issue in society and is affecting many students. “Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse” ("Supporting Victims of Child Abuse"). A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. Child abuse can affect children’s development and can affect them in school. Teachers play a major role in children’s life and they can support these students in many ways. Teachers are mandated reports and deal with and see these situations often. State agencies found an estimated 702,000 victims of child maltreatment in 2014.

Smith, Robinson, and Segal (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2017) found that all forms of child abuse scar children throughout life, both emotionally and physically. These women found abused children experience lack of trust and relationship difficulties, feelings of being worthless, and trouble regulating emotions among others. There are a multitude of risk factors which can indicate possible abuse including but not limited to domestic violence, substance abuse, untreated mental illness, lack of parenting skills, stress and lack of support. The causes and effects of child abuse vary for each case.

Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a child’s causing injuries such as, ranging from minor wounds to extreme breaks. Therefore, of punching, beating, kicking, gnawing, shaking, tossing, cutting, stifling, hitting with a hand, and other objects. Consuming or generally hurting a child that is inflicted by a parent, or guardian. The symptoms of physical abuse are unexplained consumes, bites, wounds, broken bones, and bruised eyes. Some children also may seem scared of the guardians or cries when it’s time to go home. Many children might have nightmares or trouble sleeping. Children who are being physically abuse may act withdrawn, fearful, depressed, have low self-esteem, or engage in self-harm, like cutting. Children who are physically abuse are depressed and might contemplate suicide or attempt suicide. (Childhelp.org). Child neglect is when a parent, or guardian is not providing a child’s fundamental need. Disregard might be physical inability to give important nourishment or a safe home. Child neglect can also be a medical inability to give essential medicinal or emotional well-being treatment. Emotions can also inattention to a child’s passionate needs, and the inability to give mental care, or allowing the child to utilize liquor or different medications (“WebMD”, Web). A child who is neglected may be extremely underweight or overweight. A child may be tired or sick most of the time and not wearing the proper clothes for the weather.(Childwelfare.org)

Child abuse is today a very real and prominent social problem. The impact of child abuse affects more than childhood, as psychological and physical injuries often extend to adulthood. Most children are helpless against abuse, depend on their caregivers and cannot protect themselves from these acts.