Introduction The scope of child abuse and neglect in our society is an epidemic of vast proportions in that all children are at risk. Children are abused by their loved ones, friends, friends of the family, those whom they place their trust in, and those bound to care for them. Children of all ages are at risk and vulnerable to abuse and neglect, whether in their homes, their community or even on the internet. This paper will cover the impact that child abuse and neglect have on their development, challenges in identifying abusive home environments, intervention and treatment strategies that are used with this population and key research issues as they relate to child abuse and neglect.
What impact does abuse have on a child's physical,
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Medical & Physiological Consequences Cognitive & Intellectual Consequences Psychosocial
Consequences Behavioral Consequences
Childhood Can lead to brain dysfunction, sometimes death, nonorganic failure to thrive seen in infants, neuromotor handicaps, physical defect, growth and mental retardation, risk of sexually transmitted diseases, signs of genital manipulation Delayed intellectual development, reduced cognitive functioning, show deviant patterns of processing social information, acquisition of biased and deficient patterns of social provocation information
Severe neglect may lead to developmental delays, attention deficits, poorer social skills and less emotional stability, higher risk of suicide attempts and self-mutilation, inappropriate sexual behaviors Physical aggression, antisocial behavior, withdrawal or avoidance or fear, anger, and aggression
Adolescents Depressive symptoms, schizoid/psychotic symptoms Violent delinquents, attempted or succeeded in killing their parents, becoming a runaway, teen pregnancy, increased risk for arrest, sexual and intimacy problems, alcohol and drug problems
Table 1 Summary of Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect (National Research Council Staff,
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Emotional abuse refers to the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child emotional development (Meadow, Rosenberg, & Mok, 2009). The main difference between physical and sexual abuse and emotional abuse is that there is no physical contact with the child. The following are categories of emotional abuse: unavailability, unresponsiveness, and neglect; negative attribution to and interaction with the child, developmentally inappropriate or inconsistent interactions with the child; and failure to recognize or acknowledge the child’s individuality and psychological boundary (Meadow et al, 2009). An example of criticism and rejection is when the child is treated as the scapegoat by the caretaker whereas an example of developmentally inappropriate includes when the child is given responsibility that they are developmentally unable to fulfill (2009). Consequences of emotional abuse include, but are not limited to the following: lack of response or extreme response to separation from parents, attention seeking, isolated from peer relationships or is aggressive in those relationships, educational underachievement, poor growth, physically neglected or unkempt, and very disturbed sleep (Meadows et al,
Children are often unable to consider the long term consequences of their actions, have difficulty taking the perspective of others, and typically have
Psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression can contribute to medical problems, substance abuse, and a life of crime. If psychosocial issues are not treated, they may affect the child health and wellness. It is very important for the child to learn ways to cope with these issues to be able to live a healthy and fulfilled life. Anxiety and depression can cause a child to withdraw from society and have problems trusting people. Children and adolescents with psychosocial problems often lead a destructive lifestyle. These children and adolescents are at risk for becoming alcoholics and committing crimes as teenagers and/or adults (James,
Emotional abuse- when a parent or caregiver harms a child’s mental and social development, or causes severe emotional harm, it is considered emotional abuse ("What is Child Abuse")
In recent years, there has been a surge of research into early brain development (Child Info). This is due to the ever-increasing issue of childhood neglect, abuse and the problems that arise with it. Neglect is the absence of critical organizing experiences at key times during development (Perry, 2002a). Childhood neglect can lead to cognitive and communicative deficiencies later in life.
Throughout history, children have been long subjected to numerous forms of cruel abuses such as neglect, which includes not receiving the proper care and attention, and sexual or physical abuse which involves violence towards the child in a sexual or physical manner. Abuse triggers something inside the child that can turn them into a rebellious, often ill-mannered person. It is believed that those who exhibit the more violent criminal tendencies are more likely to have been victims of abuse at some point in their lives.
Child abuse and neglect is a prevalent occurrence in our society, negatively impacting generations to come. In Taylor County, child abuse and neglect has increased significantly in the past several years. Due to the increased visibility of reporting and working with schools in the area to educate children on signs of abuse and neglect, cases and out-cries have increased significantly. Many factors have been found to influence child abuse and neglect, including poverty, low socioeconomic levels, learned patterns of behavior through cycle of abuse, domestic violence, and an increasing personal mobility that results in the loss of support systems. However, the highest primary factor in influencing child abuse and neglect is substance use, abuse,
Media attention of child abuse and neglect gained more attention in the 1960s; without the powerful influence of media bringing awareness to the numerous child deaths related to the child abuse cases in America there will still been little progression. New evolving definitions of abuse and maltreatment have caused society to evaluate how each child abuse cases should be investigated differently and effectively. Researchers are constantly developing technology, tools, and skills needed to address these issues as well. Defining child abuse as a social problem also aided in the awareness on the affects child abuse and neglect could have on our children. As we consistently progress into the future we are becoming more innovative on techniques,
Children are being abandoned each and everyday, I was one of those children to be left by their parents. No mother, no father, no home, can you imagine a life without those things, I lived that life, a life of a drug addicted mother, a father I never knew and an unstable living environment. Our world we call Earth is not as great as it seems. I question, What are the reasons people have children only to abandon them later? We live in a world that is not perfect and is not all smiles and laughs. Child abandonment is the act of leaving or mistreatment of an adolescent. There are more baby boys, 55 percent to baby girls, 41 percent that are abandoned (sherr). Child abandonment is also considered child neglect and child abuse. There are many different reasons to why people
Child abuse affects many people around the world whether it’s sexual, physical, emotional, neglect or domestic violence. Even children witnessing or seeing abuse suffer from extensive damage. “52% of child abuse involve neglect” () neglect is also a form of abuse, it may not be like physical abuse, showing scars or bruises, but it can affect the child just as much, it can lead to the fear of being alone, anxiety, depression, thoughts about taking there own life and many more.
illness or develop anti-social behaviours as a child and even later in the adult life.
Drowning in tears and wounded by what has been done can never be healed. People forgive, but they can never forget. It’s imprinted on their heart. Every year a child is left to survive on his or her own. The pain they go through is unbearable. Physically they are torn apart, emotionally they are troubled, and socially they are attacked. If a mother or father neglects their child, they have started a raging battle for the child. It is said that if the neglect causes harm to the child, then the individual may be charged with a misdemeanor unless they have faced previous child abuse.
“More children suffer from neglect in the United States than from physical and sexual abuse combined.The US Department of Health and Human Services found that in 2007 there were 794,000 victims of child maltreatment in the US, of those victims 59% were victims of neglect.” (Psychology Today, 2016). Child neglect not only affects the child, but all of society. Together as a community we have to do what we can to stop child neglect because, in the long run, it will save us all money and heartache. Child neglect has numerous effects on the abused child, some of which can be fatal to themselves or to the people around them. Additionally Child neglect cases cost America Billions per year.
Emotional abuse, likewise alluded to as psychological abuse, is a kind of abuse in which the care giver over and over again makes a kid feel used, disliked, and useless (Iwaniec, Larkin, and McSherry, 2007). These acts of commission vary from emotional neglect, which includes acts of neglect (i.e., lack of attention, 2007). Contradictory, physical abuse refers to hurting a kid through creating a physical harm (e.g., punching, beating, and so on.; U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Such harm may happen inadvertently, as an outcome of over discipline or cruel physical punishment. While physical punishment does not essentially cause a huge physical damage (e.g., spanking), physical abuse is characterized by huge physical wounds
A significant amount of exploration continues to be performed around the probable effects involving child abuse in addition to neglect. The consequences differ according to the conditions of maltreatment, surroundings of the child, and child's traits. Outcomes could be minor as well as severe; vanish immediately after a short time or last an entire life in addition to impact the child physically, sentimentally, behaviorally or in certain mix of just about all several methods. Out of some of the research that has been gathered approximately 794,000 of the studies have been identified for being victims regarding mistreatment along with neglect. All around the youngest kids endure the greatest rate associated with victimization. Newborns beginning at birth to at least 12 months old would be the most prone susceptible
Child abuse or neglect can start at very young ages. Researchers have studied child neglect, and the long term effects are terrific. Neglect can have long-lasting effects. It can be anything from leaving a child home alone to the more extreme case of malnutrition where the child does not survive. As a human being you have your basic necessities such as: water, vitamins, and protein of some sort. As a child the food you eat and the nutrition you get impact your physical appearance. Not only can malnutrition cause growth problems, it takes a toll on a person emotionally. When a child is being neglected I feel like the parents i s pilfering the child's life away day by day.