Effects Of Child Abuse example essay topic

Child Abuse Can Kill The effects of child abuse can be long lasting or maybe even fatal. "The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that 2.9 million children are abused or neglected by parents or caretakers each year" ("Child Abuse" Encarta). This fact is very disturbing to the many of us that don't know child abuse was this common in the U.S. There are various types of child abuse. Physical abuse, which is deliberate acts of violence that injure or may even kill a child. Sexual abuse occurs when adults use children for their sexual gratification. Emotional abuse is mostly verbal abuse.

When the adult puts the children down by calling them names or just screaming at the child for no apparent reason. Another form of child abuse is Physical neglect. This type of abuse involves the parents' failure to provide for the child's needs". Among the cases of abuse reported, 52 percent involved physical abuse or emotional neglect, 24.5 percent involved physical abuse, 12.6 percent involved sexual abuse, 4.5 percent involved emotional abuse, and 17.3 percent involved other abuses, such as educational neglect or abandonment" ("Child Abuse" Encarta). Many people have difficulty understanding why any person would want to hurt a child. "The public often assumes that the people that abuse their children suffer from a mental illness but fewer than 10 percent of abusers have mental illnesses" ("Child Abuse" Encarta).

There is more room for abuse in a family when the parents or caretakers are of a young age or just have very little patients. Mature adults that are raising kids tend not to abuse their children because they are able to cope with the demands of their children and the other stresses around them. "Child abuse results from a complex combination on personal, social, and cultural factors. These may be grouped into four primary categories: (1) intergenerational transmission of violence, (2) social stress, (3) social isolation and low community involvement, and (4) family structure" ("Child Abuse" Encarta). Interim transmission of violence is displayed when the abused children become abusive parents. "Some studies have shown that 30 percent of abused children become abusive themselves and others show that most of the abused do not become abusive adults" ("Child Abuse" Britannica).

Social stress is a common cause of child abuse in a family. The conditions of social stress include unemployment, illness, poor housing conditions, a large family, death of a family member or close friend, or maybe even the presence of a new baby or a disabled person in the home. Social isolation and low community involvement is yet another cause of abuse in homes all around the country. Most abusive parents do not become active in their community. Cultural factors also come into play here. "Certain types of families have an increased risk of child abuse" ("Child Abuse" Britannica).

The family structure of a home sometimes relates to weather or not the adults are abusive or not. Single parents are more likely to be abusive towards their children than that of a home with two original parents. The effects of child abuse can be very severe. For the different types of abuse there are different effects. Some effects associated with physical abuse are a damaged self-esteem, desire to hurt ones self, poor work, running away, difficulty in building trust, and problem with relationships. A damaged self-esteem, eating disorders, and a tendency to get involved in abusive relationships are a few effects associated with emotional abuse.

Some effects related with sexual abuse may be a damaged-self esteem, suicidal impulses, eating disorders, and a difficulty enjoying others and building healthy and long lasting relationships. Keep in mind that these different effects that can happen with any form of abuse this is what was observed. There are many different forms of treatment for abused children. But the first step is always getting past the denial. "Some abused children deny their abuse until they see how it really effects them" (Mufson 109). There are many anonymous hotlines for children to call in and talk about their abuse and receive help.

Children can also go to a child's psychiatrist to provide evaluation and care for children that were or may have been abused. With out the proper treatment abused children may be damaged for life.

Bibliography

Child Abuse". Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. 31 Jan. 2000".
Child Abuse". Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation: 1993-1997 Encyclopedia.
CD. ROM. Mufson, Susan. Straight Talk About Child Abuse. New York: Facts on File. 1991.