Topic Description
Child abuse is one of the most serious social issues that have to be solved on a regular basis due to the presence of numerous long-term and short-term effects. Children cannot even understand a true essence of parental neglect and the cases of abuse, this why this concept is discussed on a variety of levels.
People have to know that child abuse does take place in a society: from 3.3 million to 10 million children suffer from domestic violence at home (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa, Tajima, Herrenkohl, & Russo, 2010).
It is officially reported data; however, it is hard to imagine how many children may be actually classified as maltreated by their parents or other caregivers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).
The recognition of child abuse signs is a very important step as it is wrong to believe that child maltreatment takes place because of the presence of a single sing or poor understanding of child behavior.
Iwaniec (2006) states that emotional abuse of a child is now more prevalent than realized, and it has a more damaging impact in comparison to the one made in a result of physical or sexual types of abuse.
Problem Description
Unfortunately, the effect of child abuse cannot end as soon as the case of abuse stops. As a rule, a number of long-term and short-term effects may be observed in a human life for a long period (Sousa, Herrenkohl, Moylan, Tajima, Klika, Herrenkohl, & Russo, 2011).
Different researchers identify various effects of childhood trauma and prove their urgency.
For example, Degun-Mather (2006) underlines dissociation and repression as the two main traumatic experiences that have to be analyzed; and Gloud, Clarke, Heim, Harvey, Majer, and Nemeroff (2012) say about the role of emotional changes and stresses.
In fact, the effects of child abuse may vary considerably: anxiety, alcoholism, language or brain development, risks for heart or even cancer, etc.
Parents as well as other caregivers should properly understand their role in the educational process of a child and realize that their impact remains to be crucial for the development of a future society.
Child abuse is a legal issue as well, this is why when an adult commits a case of child abuse, he/she should learn all responsibilities and possible effects.
Justification of the Problem Choice
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2013) presents interesting facts that child abuse and neglect effects have to be analyzed considering such factors like child’s age, maltreatment type, frequency of abuse, type of relations between a child and a perpetrator, etc.
This is why it is not enough to say that child abuse affects a person’s development. It is necessary to identify the reasons of child abuse, its characteristics, conditions, and even possible methods of healing (Lemoncelli, 2012) taking into account the latest achievements, investigations, and limitations in a particular sphere.
Child abuse and parental neglect are the two old problems (Corby, Shemmings, & Wilkins, 2012), and their roots’ evaluation of plays an important role in the investigating the chosen issue.
In general, it is possible to divide the effects of child abuse in several categories: physical, emotional, psychological, behavioral, and even economic.
However, each category has its own peculiarities and roles for a society. If people want to achieve the required piece, satisfaction, and success in a lifespan, child abuse effects should be identified and solved.
Reference List
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Child Maltreatment: Consequences. Web.
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). Long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. Web.
Corby, B., Shemmings, D., & Wilkins, D. (2012). Child abuse: An evidence base for confident practice. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Degun-Mather, M. (2006). Hypnosis, dissociation and survivors of child abuse: Understanding and treatment. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Gloud, F., Clarke, J., Heim, C., Harvey, P.D., Majer, M., & Nemeroff, C.B. (2012). The effects of child abuse and neglect on cognitive functioning in adulthood. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 46(4), 500-506.
Iwaniec, D. (2006). The emotionally abused and neglected child: Identification, assessment and intervention. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Lemoncelli, J.J. (2012). Healing from childhood abuse: Understanding the effects, taking control to recover. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Moylan, C.A., Herrenkohl, T.I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E.A., Herrenkohl, R.C., & Russo, M.J. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Family Violence, 25(1), 53-63.
Sousa, C., Herrenkohl, T.I., Moylan, C.A., Tajima, E.A., Klika, J.B., Herrenkohl, R.C., & Russo,. M.J. (2011). Longitudinal study on the effects of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence, parent-child attachments, and antisocial behavior in adolescence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(1), 111-136.