Investigating the Long-Term Effects of Physical Child Abuse Essay

Some other effects of being physically abused are problems controlling their emotions; they are less competent

Considering the large number of children who are victims of child abuse, it is important to investigate not only the immediate effects of abuse, but also the long-term effects on the child’s well-being. Exposure to childhood maltreatment is a non-specific risk factor associated with many short and long term negative outcomes ranging from externalizing and internalizing behaviors, dissociative symptoms and self-harm behaviors, and adaptability and coping skills (Jackson, Gabrielli, Fleming, Tunno, & Makanui, 2014). When a child grows up in a home environment characterized by hostile interpersonal relationships, physical maltreatment, or neglect he or she is at risk for long-term developmental concerns regarding physiological, social, emotional,

A number of devastating psychological effects have been attributed to abuse in childhood (Sansone, Kelley, & Forbis, 2013). The mental health effects that may be caused are anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem and may cause suicidal thoughts. Usually the aggressor tries to scare the person to not speak about what is going on or they just feel so ashamed it takes time for them to speak up.

In our society, an individual child’s maltreatment can cause that child, as an adult, employment problems and financial problems. While, long term economic issues in our society associated with child maltreatment include the cost of health-care, judicial system, and law enforcement. The direct costs of child maltreatment total $124 billion dollars and the indirect total is approximately $104 billion dollars as of 2011. (Long-Term Consequences Of Child Abuse And Neglect, 2013t)

The author of this book ,Stuart was abused by his step father that almost ruined his life and ended up in hospital, but in this book he writes about how he survived the

They will typically have more difficulty learning in the classroom because of responses similar to these (Prothrow-Smith, December 1995). A student that is being abused at home is more likely to be withdrawn in the classroom and have a lower self-esteem level because they feel that if they answer a question incorrectly they will be negatively punished in some manor (NAEYC, 1997). Students show an inability to cope with the stress levels that are associated with school and are therefore more likely to give up. In fact, maltreated children do not differ on perceived academic ability but their scores on actual tests are significantly lower (Kinard, 2001). One major area that is extremely important to the growth of children is how they interact with other children while at school. Abuse in the home will negatively effect social growth because it influences how comfortable a child feels around other people. The fear of punishment, physical or verbal, determines how a child approaches an other child. Every student in school will most likely be unable to perfect each subject, but a student that is abused is unable to grasp this concept. They feel the need to perfect each subject and when they do not they feel like a failure. Failure is most likely not an option because, to the majority of the abused, failure equals some kind of

Experiencing abuse can lead to many things; bruises or cuts, or even depression or anxiety. However, different kinds of abuse can have different effects. For example, a child who is a victim of physical abuse could show signs of having trouble at school, difficulty trusting others, and many more things. A victim of emotional abuse, though, might question their memory or feel shame or guilt. Although, all kinds of abuse can lead to things like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

In the study Differential Profiles of Adaptive Behavior of Maltreated Children they compared the differences in adaptive behavior between children who were abused, neglected, and a comparison group. Children who had been abused had a lower adaptive behavior then the comparison group, but the neglected children had a “moderately low range for all three domains” (Viezel, Lowell, Davis, Castillo 2014 p. 577). With the findings they suggested that neglected children would have delays in coping skills, personal care skills, expressive communication, and the inability to participate in appropriate play. “This is consistent with previous research that suggested; youth who were neglected experienced difficulties in social interactions, social withdrawal, and isolation” (Viezel et al 2014 p. 577). Child neglect has yet to gain a lot of attention or interventions when compared to child physical abuse, this is concerning since research suggests that child neglect has significant delays to their

The United States has been fighting the war against child abuse since the first case of child abuse in 1874 that included a child being beaten and chained against her will (Meadows, 2014). Many people hear the words child abuse and think of physical abuse. While, many people are correct in thinking of physical abuse, an “Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)” study done by the CDC shows that although physical abuse is the leading form of child abuse, emotional or psychological abuse is the second leading form of child abuse (2014). Although one would think sexual abuse along with physical abuse would be the prominent form of abuse, this is not the case. One of the major reasons emotional neglect is more prominent than sexual abuse is due to the fact that emotional abuse is not being overlooked as often as it used to. In fact, it is now being seen as the gateway to physical and sexual abuse (Garbarino, Guttman, & Seeley, 1988). The amounts of consequences that come from being abused as a child are countless as well as life changing, some of these life-changing effects were identified by the CDC as drug abuse, sexual transmitted diseases, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty learning (2014).

Child abuse is one of the most serious issues in the United States today. Child abuse is the physical, emotional/ psychological or sexual maltreatment of a minor. Neglecting a child is another type of abuse, and includes malnutrition, abandonment, and/or inadequate care of a child’s safety. Additionally, any neglectful act can lead to physical or emotional harm and in some cases death of a child. Unfortunately, young children are the most vulnerable population to child abuse. Statistics indicate that victims in their first year of life had the highest rate of victimization at 21.9 per 1,000 children of

"Most of us can’t imagine what would make an adult use violence against a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginable it seems. But the incidence of parents and other caregivers consciously, even willfully, committing acts that harm the very children they’re supposed to be nurturing is a sad fact of human society that cuts across all lines of ethnicity and class. Whether the abuse is rooted in the perpetrator’s mental illness, substance abuse, or inability to cope, the psychological result for each abused child is often the same: deep emotional scars and a feeling of worthlessness. “Child Abuse is when a parent of caregiver, whether through action or failing to act,

This article paper aims at providing an overview of the article “The long-term health consequences of child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect: a systematic review and meta-analysis” by Norman, et.al. The research aims at highlighting the evidence that relates child physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect with the subsequent mental and physical health outcomes. Child physical abuse, emotional violence, sexual assault, and neglect are some of the most severe concerns affecting children and our society as a whole. These behaviors have adverse short-term and long-term physical and psychological effects on children. The study of child physical and sexual abuse by sociologists has intensified in the recent past as sociology of childhood has emerged as a crucial area of study. Sociology of childhood emphasizes the role played by communities and different cultures in shaping and defining childhood experiences.

There are numerous long term effects that are a direct result of non-fatal child abuse and child neglect. A sad statistic and current reality is that “one child is reported abused or neglected every 34.9 seconds, according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).” (Orthmann & Hess, 2013) Child abuse covers everything from physical abuse, to child sexual abuse, as well as verbal abuse. Child neglect then covers the child who is neglected, and child endangerment. The vast majority of parents or caretakers who offend, offend by committing emotional or physical child abuse.

Violence breeds violence. The number of reported child abuse cases in the United States hit its peak in 2003 and has since gone down. The numbers are getting lower and the policies set in place to shelter kids have gotten better. However, prior to the past two decades there have been only vague policies to protect children in the United States. Since 1990 much has been done to reform policies to safeguard kids. In this paper I will discuss the history of child abuse policies, the progress that has been made to child abuse policies, and how the policies meet the criteria of the family impact checklist.

In other instances, the parent can confiscate the child’s belongings or force the children to strip down naked and be photographed as a form of punishment. Considering the types of abuse that these children experience, there are psychological effects that can affect their life as they get older. The effects of household abuse can extend outside the home and affect the child in their performance in society. “Children Exposed to Domestic Violence” states that children exposed to family violence can experience difficulties in paying attention and staying on task (Geffner 39). Abused children are prone to externalizing problems which causes children to act out. Externalizing problems include temper tantrums, impulsivity, hyperactivity, aggression, conflict, cruelty and bullying. Another issue that abused children develop are internalizing problems. Internalizing problems are issues such as headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety, fear of separation, social withdraw and depression. This overall causes the children to be less engaged in tasks and in normal behaviors.