Child Abuse

Abstract

Child abuse is generally considered as the actions that results from the four primary acts. These are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. Child abuse is growing in the society and all over the world at an alarming rate. The report will explore the long term consequences of abuse addressing the four primary forms of abuse. It will also discuss the number of ways in which child is affected and develops psychiatric and psychological disorders due to abuse. The paper also reviews the literature on the psychological effects of child maltreatment.

Working Outline

Abstract

Introduction

Associated psychological and behavioral disorders with abuse including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders of obesity and bulimia (Committee on Adolescence, 2003)

Discussion

Major classifications of child abuse

Neglect includes physical, emotional or educational neglect from the caretaker

Emotional Abuse to the child in the form on unreasonable demands and expectations

Physical Abuse in which child is given physical punishments and injuries

Sexual Abuse that results from sexual exploitation and insect

Child Abuse in USA

Mostly the abuse is reported with children under the age of 4 as one third of the abused victims, and one fifth falls in the range of 4 to 7 years (Childhelp, 2013)

In 2008, 17.6% abuse cases were physical, 78.3% were of neglect, 2.4% were of medical, 9.2% were sexual, 8.1% were psychological, 10.3% were on other grounds, and 0.3% was unknown (Childhelp, 2013).

Long Term Consequences

Possible behaviors adopted by the abused child include criminal involvement, drug abuse and eating disorders

A study found that 80% of abused victims develop at least one disorder when they reached the age of 21 (Grilo & Masheb, 2002). The risk of involvement in criminal activities of abused and neglected children is 11 times more than any other individual at early ages.

Bulimia

Nearly 69% bulimics patients suffered from childhood sexual experiences (Hastings & Kern, 1994)

Obesity

Women tend to become more obese than men in case of suffering from childhood abuse emotionally or physically (Wadden et.al, 2002)

Post Traumatic Stress

Development of Depression, feeling of lost self identity, anxiety, night mares and hallucinations

The risks of suicidal thoughts also dominate in such individuals (Stunkard & Allison, 2003)

Role of Family Environment

First family pattern is centripetal process that includes over-protectiveness, avoidance of parents in child upbringing, rigidity in parents' behavior (Schmidt et.al, 1997). Family structure is dominated by excessive cohesion, lack of permissiveness, reduced emotional expressivity and impoverished extra-familial contacts.

Second family pattern is a centrifugal process. In these family structures, family members lack cohesion and attachment. A variant of this approach is also called binger restricted dichotomy (Schmidt et.al, 1997).

Conclusion

Abstractii

Introduction4

Discussion4

Types of Child Abuse5

Neglect5

Emotional Abuse6

Physical Abuse6

Sexual Abuse7

Child Abuse in USA7

Long-term Consequences8

Bulimia9

Obesity11

Post Traumatic Stress11

Role of Family Environment12

Conclusion13

References16

Child Abuse

Introduction

Childhood abuse is highly common, and it affects male and female equally. Child abuse is generally considered as a regular characteristic of a family system but the abuse can result in chronic and extreme disorders. A history of such abuse can give rise to many psychological and behavioral characteristics like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders of obesity and bulimia (Committee on Adolescence, ...