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Child abuse and neglect is a national
problem which has increased to epidemic proportions in the United States. More than 2.5 million reports of child abuse are
made in the United States annually with hundreds of deaths related to child abuse reported each year.
Most runaways, adolescent prostitutes
and teenage delinquent’s report having been victims of some form of child abuse, and it is reported that a majority
of violent criminals suffered abuse, either physical and/or sexual as children.
Abuse robs children of the opportunity
to develop healthy, trusting relationships with adults, contributes to low self-esteem, and impairs healthy psycho-social
development. Indeed, the effects of childhood abuse often last a lifetime.
What is child abuse?
The term "child abuse" can be defined
as any behavior directed toward a child by a parent, guardian, care giver, other family member, or other adult, that endangers
or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development.
While child abuse and neglect affect
all segments of society and know no socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, or religious boundaries, included among the factors which
often contribute to child abuse are alcohol and substance abuse, lack of parenting skills, economic difficulties or poverty,
domestic violence and previous victimization.
Child abuse includes four major categories:
physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.
What are signs of possible physical abuse?
Physical child abuse involves external
injuries and is more easily detected than other forms of abuse. The following signs may indicate physical abuse:
Unexplained injuries, especially those
located on parts of the body not usually affected by normal childhood activities, (e.g., eyes, mouth, back, thighs, buttocks,
genital areas, etc.).
Repeated injuries such as bruises,
welts or burns, especially those where the shape of an object is visible, (e.g., an electric cord, hair brush, belt, buckle,
board, cigarette, etc.).
Abrasions or lacerations appearing
on the body for no apparent reason. Injuries in various stages of healing which appear in a regular pattern or are grouped
together.
Small circular burns which may have
been inflicted by a cigarette or cigar, often found on forearms, hands, buttocks, or soles of the feet.
Burns with a "doughnut" shape on
the buttocks which may indicate a child was dipped or forced to sit in scalding liquid. Any burn which shows the pattern of
the object used to inflict the injury (e.g., an iron, fireplace tool, heaters, etc.).
Burns caused by friction, usually
found on arms, neck, legs, or torso indicating a rope or cord may have been used to tie up the victim.
Unexplained fractures, (e.g., nose,
face, ribs, legs, arms, etc.).
Behavior by the child which may
be hyperactive, disruptive, and aggressive, or complacent, compliant, shy, withdrawn or uncommunicative.
Denial by parents that anything is wrong, unlikely explanation for the child’s injuries, delays in obtaining
medical care, or inadequate care given and injuries which occur with increasing frequency or severity.
Why are children physically abused
and/or neglected?
Parents who abuse their children may love them very
much but not very well. The most prevalent reasons for child abuse and neglect are:
The parents were abused as children and lacked a successful
model of parenting and family life.
Immaturity, the absence of parenting preparation
skills, and a lack of understanding of child development often result in the creation of unrealistic expectations for a child’s
behavior. When the child fails to meet these expectations, frustration on the part of the parent may erupt in anger toward
the child.
Abusing parents often feel isolated or keep themselves
isolated from others. They may expect the child to satisfy their unmet emotional needs.
Financial pressures, poor housing conditions, loss
of a job and the inability to provide for the needs of the family can cause parents to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Alcohol and substance abuse compound the chances
for loss of control and eruption of violent behavior.
What is emotional abuse?
Emotional abuse is the most difficult form of child
abuse to verify. It includes both verbal assaults and the withholding of positive emotional support. Although the scars may
not be visible to the naked eye, emotional abuse wounds the spirit, frequently leaving its marks for a lifetime.
Victims of emotional abuse are "hit" every day with
the power of words which are demeaning, shaming, threatening, blaming, intimidating, unfairly critical or sarcastic in nature.
This form of abuse is destructive to a child’s
self-confidence and self-esteem. It can affect a child’s emotional development, resulting in a sense of worthlessness
and inadequacy. Some indicators of potential emotional abuse include:
Patterned behavior that is extreme (e.g., lying, stealing,
fighting) or is overly aggressive and acts out inappropriately;
Appears defensive, shy or overly dependent;
Is verbally
abusive to others, using the same language and demeaning terms she/he has experienced.
Children who suffer emotional abuse
often grow into adults who see themselves through the eyes of their abuser. They carry a sense of inadequacy and worthlessness
with them into their jobs and relationships. Frequently, those who have experienced emotional abuse in childhood find it difficult
to develop healthy, intimate relationships as adults. They may even develop antisocial behaviors which isolate them further.
It is important to recognize that emotional/verbal
abuse has a powerful negative effect on children. Physical abuse is almost always accompanied by emotional abuse. We must
be alert to the ways children are portrayed in the media and words we hear being directed at them. Breaking the cycle of emotional
abuse is a responsibility we all must share.
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