Children who display signs of sexual activities are likely to be exposed to negative maternal response. Such inappropriate sexual behaviors result in sexual abuse among children (Knott par. 1).
Notably, a child’s sexual abuse influences the culpability perceptions of his/her mother of the non-offending cluster, hence resulting in poor maternal response. In terms of percentage, children who displayed sexually inappropriate behaviors were 10.1% more likely to be exposed to negative maternal response than those who did not show such sexual behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is efficient in mitigating inappropriate sexual behaviors that can arise on maternal response. Children become vulnerable to sexual abuse emanating from contributions of developmental and cognitive disability (1). Developmental disabilities, such as autism, mental illness, mental retardation, learning disabilities, among others, were noted as increasing negative maternal responses.
Percentage comparisons showed that children with development disabilities were 27.5% more likely to receive negative maternal response to the disclosure of the children sexual abuse than their counterparts without development disabilities. Parents do not believe that such children can accurately give an account for events that happen to them (2). Parental response to the children is also presented in a form of abuse of the rights of the children, as they feel neglected or disowned.
A study in China related suicidal ideation with child abuse, which may emanate from physical maltreatment. Therefore, mild to severe physical abuse is a form of child abuse, while suicidal ideation is an effect of such abuses on children (Kwok, Chai, and He 986). Physically abused children often attempt to commit suicide in their adolescent stages. Besides, childhood psychological abuse can result in suicidal ideation.
These abuses are signs of verbal assaults that parents perform on their children to cause psychological fear or pain. For example, verbal attacks from parents that involve verbal hostilities and threats are abuses that increase the risk of suicidal ideation among children when they reach late adolescence.
Clearly, the process of hurling verbal threats at children is an abuse in itself, as it can lead to suicidal ideation or attempts (987). Parents should avoid sarcastic or critical comments when criticizing their children in order to avert suicidal plans, attempts, and ideation. At the same time, parents ought to stop using punishments that can inflict physical pain on their children when correcting misbehaviors, as this may reduce suicidal attempts during adulthood.
Abuses on children comprise physical abuse, neglect by parents, and incapacity or absence of caregivers. Maltreatment causes injury in children, such as drowning, assault, or fall. Even though the injuries after maltreatment can be undetermined, intentional or unintentional, the deaths are either intentional or unintentional.
Some maltreatment cases make children to be at high risk of losing their lives at the first referral (Putnam-Hornstein et al. 40). Abuse can also come from siblings, but depending on allegation’s hierarchy, they are classified according to initial reports. The article ‘Risk of Fatal Injury in Young Children Following Abuse Allegations’ by Putnam-Hornstein, Cleves, Licht, and Needell presented causes of child abuse, such as neglect, physical abuse, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse, and other maltreatment (41).
Under neglect, there are both general and severe physical neglect (41). These abuses on children lead to high risk injuries, as well as death. All the family members can contribute to abuse on a child. The effects can be homicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation, truancy, depression, and anxiety. Children’s needs should not be ignored in order to make them feel valued and avoid or minimize emotional harm.
Works Cited
Knott, Theresa. Maternal Response in Cases of Suspected and Substantiated Child Sexual Abuse. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations. N.p., 29 Nov. 2012. Web.
Kwok, Sylvia Y.C.L., Wenyu Chai, and Xuesong He. “Child Abuse and Suicidal Ideation among Adolescents in China.” Elsevier Journal 37.11 (2013): 986-996. Science Direct. Web.
Putnam-Hornstein, Emily, Mario A. Cleves, Robyn Licht, and Barbara Needell. “Risk of Fatal Injury in Young Children Following Abuse Allegations: Evidence from a Prospective, Population-Based Study.” American Journal of Public Health 103.10 (2008): 39-44. Print.