Negative Effects of Child Abuse - Essay Example

Negative Effects of Child Abuse Name Institution INTRODUCTION Of the benefits that economic development has brought, provision of quality education and secure future for children globally is the most important. Nevertheless, across the globe, there has been reported a tremendous growth of child abuse (Sofuoglu et al., 2016). There are a number of researches that reports the consequences of child abuse. The effects vary according to personal characteristics of children as well as child’s environment. The effects of child abuse may be mild or severe and affects children physically, psychologically and behaviourally (Cold et al., 2016). Therefore, it is very important for the society to offer prevention strategies to curb child abuse. Parents should not consider child abuse as something that is not serious but should consider the difficulties and consequences that children undergo during child abuse that include fragile health, emotional and physical abuse and neglecting parents. This essay will highlight the consequences of child abuse such as behavioural effect, health effects, eating disorder and obesity and physical abuse among others. HEALTH ISSUES People who are abused during their childhood are at very high risk of major depression which lingers for many years after adulthood (NIMH, 2007). In a study undertaken by Silverman, Reinherz and Giaconia (1996), about 80 per cent of young adults who have undergone abuse and neglect often show some characteristics of psychiatric disorder as early as when they are 21 years. Another health problem affecting people who have undergone child abuse is stress. Children who have been neglected often produce high levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that designates high stress levels (Sopher, 2016). Factors such as physical discipline and lack of emotional affection can increase the amount of this hormone even in small children. Child abuse and neglect is also linked to increased risk of recurrent posttraumatic stress disorder. Overall, a third of children affected by sexual abuse are affected by high stress levels. 32.7 per cent of them are physically abused and neglected (CS, 2016). Child abuse may also affect emotional well-being of children. Child abuse and neglect may be in form of emotional abuse which is associated with poor mental development as well as keeping and maintaining strong social relationships. Child’s emotional abuse can also result to serious challenges in schools and work environments and can lead to criminal behaviour. According to Child Abuse Statistics (2016), approximately 80 per cent of young adults who were abused during their childhood show some symptoms of psychological disorder. BEHAVIOURAL EFFECTS Behavioural effects of child abuse may be in form of self-harm. Self-harm can be termed as the act of intentionally harming oneself as a means of coping with emotional pain and frustration. Self-harm result to physical pain and emotional pain (PTSD, 2016). The physical pain of self-harm is not hard to deal with compared to emotional pain. Self-harm often makes an individual feel they are not in control of their lives. It is often used as a means to punish oneself for some things done knowingly or unknowingly. In a study involving a group of self-harmers, it was found out that more than 90 per cent of them have undergone child abuse during their abuse (PTSD, 2016). Behavioural effects of child abuse involve the use of alcohol and drugs. Child abuse is also linked to alcohol and drug use. Consistent researches have indicated that an increased number of children who have experienced child abuse and neglect during their childhood are at high risk of smoking cigarettes and illicit drugs. One of the high prevalent long-term effects of child abuse and neglect is alcohol and drug abuse. In addition, eating disorders and obesity is very common among people who have suffered from child abuse and neglect (Havoca, 2014). Many psychological studies have linked children victimization and obesity and eating disorders. United Kingdom study about child abuse has shown that severe childhood adversity including witnessing domestic violence as well as physical abuse is linked to a 40 per cent increase in obesity among adults (Havoca, 2014). Child abuse and neglect also causes humiliation. Shaming and humiliation often result to fear among children. Such fear often lingers around until adulthood. Shaming and humiliation is a barrier to healthy life and social relationships. When these children become parents, the fear they have is often passed through the generation. Humiliating children are those who are overlooked by their parents, are taken for granted, and are ignored and treated as invisible. PHYSICAL ABUSE Physical abuse may result to long-term effects in form of bruises, fractures and burns among others. Bruising is considered an important sign of physical abuse which may come from being bitten, slapped or punched. Kemp et al. (2013) has reported that significantly more children facing physical abuse have some type of bruises in their body. Physical abuse can also result to fractures. Abuse fractures result from twisting or pulling a hand or leg so hard which causes traction of the bone. Fractures from physical abuse can be hard to diagnose. More than 30 per cent of children under the age of 3 years facing physical abuse are misdiagnosed with fractures reported to be attributable to other causes (Cold et al., 2016). Other effects of physical abuse include burns. Burns have identifiable patterns and can be diagnosed easily. For instance, scalding burns that are found in children immersed in hot water often form distinct line where the burn connect to the undamaged skin. Of all the severe burns cases reported in children, about 10 per cent of them suffer from physical abuse. Physical abuse also causes scars that may be in form of bite marks (Kemp et al., 2013). Bite marks are common signs of physical abuse. Human bites examined in children can be seen as signs of child abuse. Bite marks are evident when lacerations with ovoid share are witnessed. 80 per cent of the world population are considered secretor, which means that presence of blood group antigens in the saliva can indicate whether a suspect has inflicted physical abuse in form of bite marks. Another form of child abuse is suffocation (Cold et al., 2016). It takes place when a parent intentionally chooses to suffocate a child with an object of hands. Suffocation is among the most lethal forms of physical abuse. More than 33 per cent of children who undergo suffocation succumb to death. Children who have experienced suffocation show some symptoms such as limpness, apnea and pallor (Samuels et al., 1992). EDUCATION Not only does child abuse affects physical and mental health of children, it also affects academic performance (Child Development, 1995). Children who have experienced child abuse and neglect are more likely to drop out of school compared to other children. Research studies show that children with special educational needs are at high risk of facing physical abuse. Child Development study has indicated that Maltreatment of children has led to a 32.7 per cent drop of grades among school going children. In addition, child abuse and neglect is associated with increase in school dropout. Sofuoglu et al. (2016) has recognised and reported that school dropout is a pervasive social problem affecting many countries across the globe. Issues such as sexual abuse among children are linked to high school absenteeism, difficulty in adapting to school environment, and low grades. About 39 per cent of girls between the ages of 7 to 12 years who have undergone sexual abuse often have academic challenges (Reyome, 1994). Child abuse has affected who children view school and education. It leads to lack of interest in class work. Abuse children are unable to deal with school challenges or solving high demanding schoolwork. They often have low grades and experience class repetition compared to other children. Children who have been neglected by their parents grow up to be independent with lack of moral values. They may be rude to older people especially their children due to lack of parental love (Sofuoglu et al., 2016). They prefer to spend time alone and avoid any environment that involves social exchange such as schools and classes. CONCLUSION As seen from the discussion above, something must be done to eliminate the problem of child abuse and neglect. Child abuse does not only affect the physical and emotional health of the children but academic performance. Abused children have a number of health problems such as depression and stress. They are often emotionally unstable and suffer from physical abuse such as bruises, burns and suffocation. Their education life is also affected. For instance, abused children tend to have low grand and lack of interest in classwork. Their school attendance is low compared to other children. Therefore, the society should accept the challenge of child abuse and neglect and should work towards mitigating its effects. Children are important in all countries across the world and therefore need to be taken care and nurtured for them to have good lives. Child abuse is a serious challenge that if not solved can affect the well-being of a country. REFERENCES Child Abuse Statistics. 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Bruising in children who are assessed for suspected physical abuse. Archives Of Disease In Childhood, 99(2): 108-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2013-304339 NIMH » History of Childhood Abuse or Neglect Increases Risk of Major Depression. (2007). Nimh.nih.gov. Retrieved 24th Oct. 2016 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2007/history-of-childhood-abuse-or-neglect-increases-risk-of-major-depression.shtml Reyome, N.D. (1994). Teacher ratings of the academic achievement related classroom behaviors of maltreated and non- maltreated children. Psychology in the Schools, 31: 253-260 Samuels MP, McClaughlin W, Jacobson RR, Poets CF & Southall, D 1992, Fourteen cases of imposed upper airway obstruction. Arch Dis Child., 67: 162–70. Self-Harm and Trauma - PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Ptsd.va.gov. Retrieved 24th Oct. 2016 from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/self-harm.asp Silverman AB, Reinherz HZ, Giaconia RM. (1996). 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