Child abuse, preventive measures, future relationships, poverty, domestic violence, psychological effect, maltreatment, suicidal behavior, identity issues, mental health services
Child abuse is a deeply troubling issue that affects millions of children worldwide, leaving long-lasting emotional, psychological, and physical scars. It refers to any act or series of acts that harm or potentially harm a child's well-being. While the causes of child abuse are complex, they often stem from societal, psychological, and familial factors. The consequences of abuse can be devastating, impacting a child's mental health, development, and future relationships. In this essay, I will discuss the primary reasons behind child abuse, it is devastating consequences, and the need for preventive measures.
[...] This can lead to the generation of abuse where the parent who was abused as a child is likely to harm their children. Family disorganization, especially when there is domestic violence, means that the child is exposed to a high risk of being abused. In cases where one parent is abusive, the child can be abused physically or emotionally, or else the child is exposed to parental abuse, which is just as bad (McKoy & Keen, 2022). When domestic violence is present, it disrupts the family structure, and thus, the child is likely to be neglected or directly abused emotionally. [...]
[...] Consequences of Child Abuse Some of the psychological effects of child abuse are severe and can be felt even when the person grows up. People who have been abused are more likely than others to suffer from mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The effects of abuse are that one is expected to feel worthless, have low self-esteem, and struggle to build trust with other people. Moreover, most of the abused children experience chronic stress and impaired affect regulation, making it hard for them to deal with daily tasks. [...]
[...] McCoy, M. L., & Keen, S. M. (2022). Child abuse and neglect. Routledge. Wessells, M. G., & Kostelny, K. (2021). Understanding and ending violence against children: A holistic approach. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 27(1), 3. [...]
[...] Neglect and maltreatment of children can lead to changes in the interpersonal relationship skills of a person. Children who receive abuse are likely to have a faulty perception of trust and may not quickly form healthy relationships with other people. This can pose challenges in the social aspect of life, such as interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and even intimate partners (Wessels & Kostelny, 2021). This can make them have issues in setting boundaries or identifying a healthy or unhealthy relationship; hence, they are at a high risk of being abused or being in abusive relationships again in the future. [...]
[...] Some of the steps to be taken to stop children from suffering are the availability of mental health services, knowledge of positive parenting, and intervention programs. People in society need to join hands to eliminate the causes of child abuse and make sure that no child is left to suffer and grow up in an unsafe environment. References Farnia, V., Tatari, F., Moradinazar, M., Salemi, S., Juibari, T. A., Alikhani, M & Golshani, S. (2020). Investigating the prevalence of child abuse in the families with addicted parents in Iran: With emphasis on family risk factors. Clinical epidemiology and global health, 8(4), 1098-1103. [...]
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