The paper is connected with the analysis of the quality of the current child abuse report systems because of the serious problems in the sphere of childcare. There is a great problem in terms of identifying the nature of child abuse, as well as information received by childcare professionals. Therefore, the proposals seek to establish alternative training programs both for the clinicians and for parents.
Problem Statement
Nowadays, the state of affairs in the sphere of child abuse reporting system is uncertain because of the rise of maltreatment among children. Apparently, the situation is predetermined by the negligence of the government to child abuse reporting system, as well as the quality of information obtained by the clinicians. As a result, many children suffer from continuous abuse.
Lack of funding in the sphere of reporting can provide even more financial problems to the government because of the additional resource for children to monitor their emotional, psychological, and physical state. More importantly, lack of education among the professionals taking care of children should also be improved because it depends largely on the reporting services.
This chain can be distorted and, therefore, the government will have to search for other efficient strategies for monitoring the children health.
Purpose of the Proposal
The purpose of the proposal is to introduce a new action plan for enhancing clinicians awareness and improve transparency of children abuse reporting. In particular, it is strongly suggested that the professionals dealing with children take up program on enhancing their communication skills to be able to meet childrens concerns and needs.
Background of the Proposal
In this respect, there is a serious problem in terms of the cooperation between reporting systems and professionals perception. Before presenting the solutions and a sequence of tasks, it is also indispensible to define the nature of the problem, as well as highlight various forms of child abuse, including maltreatment and child neglect.
In this respect, Levi and Portwood argue that differences in definitions often prevent the physicians from making reasonable reporting on the fact of children abuse (63). Though the extent of suspicion is not justified, there should be some barriers for the clinicians to establish childs maltreatment.
Lack of up-to-date psychological research on family upbringing often contribute negatively to deciding whether the current criteria are sufficient for reasonable child abuse reporting because there are cases revealing no evidence for actual injuries. The pie chart below also visualizes information on age ranges of child abuse, which stipulates that earlier ages as the most vulnerable to maltreatment.
Victims of Child Abuse in Relation to Age (Gill 31)
Sources of Information
The program description provided by Gill will be used as a basis for organizing the training meetings for childcare professions. In particular, Gill argues that health care professionals should be much more attentive and sensitive in case they suspect the case of child abuse (36).
Previous research also demonstrates problems with child protection in the past. Specifically, there is evidence that the properly arranged child abuse reporting systems significantly reduced the number of childe abuse fatalities (Lindsey 41).
In order to define various dimensions of family relations, it is necessary to refer to White et al who express their concerns connected with the quality of the reporting systems, as well as the laws sustaining the proper regulation of all reporting procedures (White et al. 34).
Communication analysis is also presented the reporting system analysis. According to Appleton and Nicky Stanley, &the importance of good multi-agency and interdisciplinary working and effective communication and information sharing is continually espoused in policy documents and practice guidance (153). Therefore, this tendency should also serve the basis of the given project.
Proposed Tasks
Introducing a program for clinician on learning the behavioral patterns and action plans. Because there is no an accurate standard that can identify the case of child abuse, the program should be aimed at deepening knowledge of the practitioners taking care of child mental and physical health.
Specifically, they should be knowledgeable of all risk factors and definitions of child abuse, including neglect, maltreatment, sexual and physical abuse, harassment, etc. In addition, the program also seeks to blur the professional boundaries to consider children maltreatment.
Encouraging educational programs for childs parent to prevent the case of child abuse. The importance of reporting should also concern parents should realize the usefulness and necessity of high quality children abuse reporting systems (Bunting et al 187).
Establishing regular meetings and conferences for the purpose of sharing experience concerning children with special needs. Establishing meeting and conferences will significantly enhance shared decision-making both between childcare professionals and parents and between parents and children.
There should be a consensus between the two parties concerns because it will allow not only to reduce the frequency of children maltreatment, but also to prevent the actual abuse on the part of parents.
Organizational Pattern
All the above presented tasks can be initiated simultaneously because they perform various functions that do not depend on each other. In particular, the first one is designed for clinicians, the second task seeks to improve parents attitude, and final stage is concerned with the overall opportunities for child health care sphere.
So, about 1 month will be required to work out the strategies of training and establish the rules and standards for attendance.
Experience
The initiators of the program have conducted in-depth analysis and research of psychological, social, and economic factors influencing the relations in families that could lead to maltreatment and neglect. Their experience is sufficient to meet the requirements of the program.
Budget
The funding should focus on staff salaries, as well as premises for organizing conferences, presentations and meetings. For a month program, $ 10000 will be enough to provide improvement to childrens treatment and health.
Works Cited
Appleton, Jane V., and Nicky Stanley. Communicating With Childrens Social Services And Reporting Systems. Child Abuse Review 19.3 (2010): 153-157. Print.
Bunting, Lisa, Anne Lazenbatt, and Isla Wallace. Information Sharing And Reporting Systems In The UK And Ireland: Professional Barriers To Reporting Child Maltreatment Concerns. Child Abuse Review 19.3 (2010): 187-202. Print.
Levi, Benjamin, H., and Sharon, G. Portwood. Reasonable Suspicion Of Child Abuse: Finding A Common Language. Journal Of Law, Medicine & Ethics 39.1 (2011): 62-69. Print.
Lindsey, Duncan. Mandated Reporting and Child Abuse Fatalities: Requirements for a System to Protect Children. Social Work Research 18.1 (1994): 41. Print.
White, et al. Effect Of Child Protective Services System Factors on Child Maltreatment Rereporting. Child Welfare 89.3 (2010): 33-55. Print.
The article Abuse in childhood common among alcohol addicts, study finds by Shari Roan presented in Los Angeles Times in March 15, 2012 dwells upon the research results devoted to the number of alcohol addicted who were abused in childhood. The article states that about a quarter of men and 33% of women who suffered from alcohol addiction were abused while childhood. It is significant that 12% of men and 49% of women reported about the cases of sexual abuse.
Moreover, the article also refers to the cases when people suffer from different kinds of abuse in childhood which may result in developing depression and other psychiatric disorder. Suicide is one of the consequences of the childhood abuse. Therefore, the research results presented in the article prove that most of those who suffer from alcoholic dependence were abused in childhood.
The violence, childhood physical abuse, and parental neglect concept presented on page 381 of the textbook is closely related to the article under consideration. Dwelling upon the impact of the violence and abuse during childhood, the connection with the further disabilities and disorders is obvious. Explaining this dependence, the scientists are sure that those children who were violated during the childhood get used to the stress for their bodies and mental systems.
Moreover, the organism produces too much hormone cortisol which impacts adults mood and memory abnormality when children grow up. Additionally, those people who have been abused while the childhood are more subjected to constant depression. Having grown up the condition of the constant depression, this condition remains in the adulthood and people are to cope with it. Alcohol is considered as one of the ways for people to overcome their present condition.
The ideas presented on the 173rd page of the textbook offer the idea that people drink to increase their sociability. Referencing to the problem of the childhood abuse, it may be confirmed that those children who are constantly abused at home do not have close relationships with their peers and when they grow up the problem remains.
Such children are unable to communicate with others as all they were afraid of dealing with people while childhood. Therefore, the desire to communicate with others, to find friends and become sociable is the reason for alcohol addiction. However, this desire is provoked by the childhood violence and trauma.
Dealing with the problem of alcohol addiction caused by the abuse in childhood, it is important to refer to a number of psychologists. First of all, one should use the services of the behavioral neuroscience psychologist to make sure that the hormone processes are corrected and a person is ready for psychological assistance of another specialist.
Developmental and social psychologists are important in this case in many reasons. The developmental psychologists are going to consider the development of people across the entire lifespan to make sure that the reasons and the consequences of the alcohol addiction are solved.
Moreover, the possibility to follow the physical, emotional, and social development of the person during his/her life may help understand the reasons for alcoholism better. The social psychologists is useful for understand how the environment and people who were near a person impacted his/her present condition. This may help understand the reasons of alcohol addiction and the ways to solve the problem.
The concepts of domestic violence and abuse refer to psychologically or physically aggressive behavior of one family member towards another. This aggression could take the form of beating, rape, screaming, and humiliation. Unfortunately, in the modern world, these are common phenomena. According to statics provided by Huecker et al. (2021), 10 million Americans per year suffer from violence and abuse. The victims of domestic violence and abuse feel depressed and helpless, and their self-esteem is also extremely low.
Fear of the aggressor might force a victim to keep calm about the experience of being abused. Nonetheless, there are signs via which a provider could suspect domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse. If a woman arrives at the emergency room with bruises or fractures that do not as she slipped on the wet floor, a nurse could suspect that her partner beats her. In addition to that, victims are highly likely to be depressed and anxious even though they might try to hide these emotions (Lloyd, 2018). A provider has a reason to be concerned with child abuse if a young patient is underweighted without objective reason and is afraid of other adults. In addition to that, a child might get severely scared with a loud sound or sudden movement.
As for older adults, a nurse could suspect abuse if they have bruises, broken glasses, or walking stick, show signs of depression, and fails to take medications properly. Another warning sign is the refusal of a caregiver to leave an older person alone with a nurse. Undoubtedly, caregivers might not be willing to leave in some cases because they worry about missing information on an older adults health. However, a strict refusal to follow the requests of the medical staff and negotiate is a bad sign.
In every health facility, a nurse who notices the signs of abuse and domestic violence must report them to the relevant authorities. More precisely, in the case of child abuse, medical staff contacts social services via hotlines or a written statement. The fact of elder abuse should be reported to the agencies on adult protective services. Finally, a nurse should inform the local law enforcement of the case of domestic violence. Still, before informing the related agencies, a nurse should discuss the case with a physician or a nurse practitioner and exam the patient without the potential abuser in the room.
Child Abuse has been a major part of our society. Many children are abused every day but very few cases are reported to the authorities. This act is well hidden since the majority of the time it is conducted by those close to the child. It can be deliberate however abuser can also sometimes not know that his action can harm the child, for example in the case of neglect. Statistical data shows how a childs brought up affects his or her involvement in the social ills of society. Mainly children that are abused become abusive as adults thus abusing others and so the cycle goes on.
A major part of what a person turns out to be as an adult depends on his/her treatment as a child by an adult. Therefore young children are supposed to be protected and provided with all that is necessary for bringing them up as better and normal adults for the smooth running of society.
Child abuse has always been a negative part of every society. There are four major types of abuse; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Most of the time the abuse is coming from people close to the child, caregivers, parents, babysitters, and other family members. Due to acts of abuse children suffer greatly and it wont be wrong to say that these experiences are definitely engraved into the childs personality. The main long-term after-effects of child abuse that have been proven by facts are psychological disorders, crime, and addiction, and most shockingly these abused children grow up to be child abusers themselves.
Figures of child abuse are rising in 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations in the US. (National Child Abuse Statistics, 2007). The increasing number of this gruesome crime, however, is not just limited to the US but the same trend can be seen all over the world. There are many organizations working to curb this problem however the main requirement for elimination is awareness of the consequences that abuse leads to.
According to the research conducted by Gene Abel, medical director of the Behavioral Medicine Institute of Atlanta, around 30% of pedophiles have sexually abused themselves as children. (American Psychiatric Association, 2006). This clearly states that those who are abused themselves become mentally sick and addicted to this dirty act. It is important to know how a single abuse can lead to more abuse by a former victim, thus the number multiplies. Apart from just sexually abusing others they also get involved in other serious violent crimes such as stealing and substance abuse.
In another study regarding child abuse done on a large population-based sample of men and women it came to light that as many as 80% of those abused are diagnosed with some form of psychological disorder at the age of 21. (Springer, Sheridan, Kuo & Carnes, 2007). Mainly these disorders are related to depression, anxiety attacks and nightmares but it also affects the dietary habits of the individual. Some of these people by time become more disturbed; they have anger management issues and can be dangerous to other individuals. In many of these cases, therapy becomes a necessity.
It is important for society at large to know that child abuse is not just one social ill but it leads to many other social ills such as crime, addiction, abnormal psychological behavior, and more abuse. If society does not get to know the consequences of this hidden epidemic disease then the future will not be protected well.
Child abuse refers to emotional, bodily, mental, or sexual harassment of a child. Child abuse can be committed through oversight or commission by the childs parents, caregivers, or guardians.
A research by Jaffee and Maikovich-Fong (2011) shows that child abuse can occur in different places, for example at home, school, organizations, or in communities where children live or visit.
Over the years, the four types of child abuse, namely bodily, emotional, sexual, and abandonment have occurred in varying rates in different parts of the world. The Child abuse maltreatment Report of 2010 as presented by Malcolm (2012) declares negligence the most prevalent form of child abuse across the world.
For instance, the rate of child negligence in 2010 in the United States (U.S) was 78.3% (Malcolm, 2012). Physical abuse followed at 17.6% in the same year.
The third type of abuse by prevalence was sexual abuse at 9.2% while the last form of child mistreatment by prevalence was emotional/psychological ill-treatment that stood at 8.1% (Malcolm, 2012).
In fact, statistical findings indicate that most of the people think of negligence whenever they hear of child abuse (Girgira, Tilahun & Bacha, 2014). Although various reasons have been established for the high rate of negligence as a form of child abuse, the leading cause of negligence is poverty (Girgira et al., 2014).
Different types of child abuse are inflicted on children via various ways. For example, bodily abuse takes the form of physical aggression. This aggression may be inflicted by parents, relatives, neighbors, or any other older person. In most cases, bodily abuse happens when the intention of the older person is to harm or inflict pain on a kid.
In some instances, child abuse may result in the death of the victim. However, in defense of physical child abuse, most of the aggressors hide under the guise of disciplining children. The prevalence of the physical form of child abuse has spurred a quick move in enacting laws against child abuse in most countries.
For example, by 2013, over 34 countries of the world had enacted laws against any form of corporal punishment of children (Girgira et al., 2014). Sexual abuse involves an adult or any other older person abusing a child for sexual satisfaction or stimulation.
In this case, children are involved in gratifying sexual desires of the aggressor or providing financial profits to the aggressor. Children are also forced to expose genitals. They are exposed to pornography and sexual intercourse with older persons. When adults sell children sexual services, they commit child abuse.
Today, 15-26% of mature men in the US confess to have been abused during their babyhood (Malcolm, 2012). The leading aggressors in sexual child abuse are friends at 60% followed by relatives at 10%, and strangers at 10% (Girgira et al., 2014; Blair, McFarlane, Nava, Gilroy & Maddoux, 2015).
Although emotional abuse is not as prevalent as other forms, it affects a considerable number of children. Emotional child abuse involves inflicting social and/or psychological defects on a child by being rude, arrogant, harsh, or yelling at a child. As a result, children may run away from home, abuse back, or isolate themselves.
Child abuse is associated with various negative implications. These effects may be objective, physiological, or psychosomatic. For instance, physical effects may manifest in the form of contusion or injuries, wrecked bones, soft tissue harm, or even death.
In adverse effects, physical child abuse can result in shaken baby disorder, messed up development of a kids brain, awful physical fitness, low telomerase, and illegal activities (Girgira et al., 2014). The negative effects of psychological child abuse result in psychiatric problems as a child matures.
In addition, emotional abuse may result in disorganized attachment style disorder, which is manifested through uncontrolled anxiety or depression. These expositions demonstrate the increased prevalence of child abuse across the world.
Hence, this study uses this basis to examine the effects of child abuse before presenting a reflection on the issue.
Contemporary Issues
Currently, four major forms of child abuse are prevalent in the world. These include child abandonment, physical exploitation, sexual violence, and psychological or emotional abuse. The most common form of child abuse in America and in most parts of the world is child abuse (Blair et al., 2015).
Child abandonment is also the most familiar form of child abuse in most parts of the world (Blair et al., 2015). Various factors such as poverty, mothers education, culture, and peer pressure have promoted abandonment as the major form of child abuse. The former is the most common cause of neglect.
Parents neglect children by failing to provide financial, emotional, and physical support (Jaffee & Maikovich-Fong, 2011). Parents, guardians, and caregivers also neglect children by running away from them. Physical absence of parents or caregivers is also considered negligence.
The second most prevalent form of child abuse today is physical abuse. Parents, protectors, or older people inflict physical pain on children. In most cases, physical child abuse happens in the name of instilling discipline in children.
Any excessive physical infliction of pain on the body of a child intentionally is considered child abuse (McCullough & Shaffer, 2014). In this form of child abuse, parents or child keepers may physically beat the child using a tool or bare hands, kicks, brows, knocks, slaps, or pinches.
As a result, children may suffer bruises, burns, swellings, cuts, or even death. Cases of children dying because of physical abuse have been reported in the modern world. In fact, a considerable number of teachers have killed children through physical abuse in the name of instilling order.
Brows of death have also been reported where parents kill their children in the process of punishing them (Parton, 2013). Because of the wide prevalence of child abuse, various states in the US and across the world have enacted laws against corporal punishment of children.
Sexual violence is another prevalent form of child mistreatment.
Sexual child exploitation involves the deliberate involvement of children in sexual activities by older persons, including involving them in sexual intercourse, touching their sexual organs, and exposing them to pornographic contents at the gratification of the aggressors via some financial milestones.
In most cases, the aggressors of children sexual abuse are acquaintances, including family friends and people who become friends to the children through their peers, parents, or relatives (Sansen, Iffland & Neuner, 2014). The second most prevalent aggressors in cases of child sexual abuse today are strangers and relatives.
Emotional abuse is also prevalent where parents inflict emotional defects on children. Emotional exploitation is inflicted through criticism and mockery. Excessive emotional child abuse may result in depression, withdrawals, and criminal behavior in the future of the children.
The cost of child abuse is dire to both the children, healthcare organizations, parents, and the government. The impacts of child abuse vary based on the type of child abuse. Children bear the highest percentage of the cost of child abuse. As the victims of various forms of abuse, children experience the effects at first hand.
For example, neglected children may lack basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and education. In addition, they may lack parental warmth and guidance in their lives. In the same way, children who are physically abused suffer bodily pain and harm (Sansen et al., 2014).
For example, they may suffer cuts, wounds, bleeding, wrecked body bones, destroyed body organs, or even death. Such sufferings may take a short duration or may be lifetime. Children who fall victims of sexual abuse also suffer most.
Sexually abused children suffer from distress, sexually transmitted ailments, untimely pregnancies, scorn by peers, and timidity (McCullough & Shaffer, 2014). Cases of destroyed sex organs have been reported because of child sexual abuse.
For example, a childs genitals may be physically injured, their uteruses may be destroyed, and their genitalia may be destroyed in the process of sexual exploitation. Through emotional abuse, children end up suffering the emotional consequence of the abuse.
In the end, psychologically abused children end up suffering from depression or becoming criminals in the future.
Institutions such as schools, churches, and hospitals also bear the cost of child abuse (Jaffee & Maikovich-Fong, 2011). Schools suffer when children are abused physically, emotionally, or sexually, since their (children) academic performance is highly affected by child abuse.
As a result, children cannot concentrate in class or socialize with others. In some instances, when the aggressor is a teacher, parents may sue the school or soil its name. Other institutions such as churches also suffer the cost of child abuse. For example, the church is entrenched the role of ensuring strong values in families.
Therefore, it is expected to reconcile the children with their parents or guardians. Hospitals also bear the cost of child abuse. For instance, physically, sexually, or emotionally abused children end up in hospitals (Jaffee & Maikovich-Fong, 2011).
As a result, doctors, psychiatrists, and hospital administrations are tasked with the role of ensuring that the health of the child is well (Widom, Czaja, Bentley, & Johnson, 2012). The government also bears the cost of child abuse. For instance, governments are expected to enact laws on child abuse in any form.
For example, laws on defilement have been enacted in countries such as the US to help in addressing the issue. Every government has a role of protecting its children from any form of abuse. The government also has the role of arresting the aggressors and prosecuting them for any form of child abuse.
Background Definitions
Child abuse can be separated into three distinct types, namely physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Physical abuse is any type of physically harmful action an adult parent or guardian commits against a minor child.
This form may include punching, hitting, slapping, kicking, beating, burning, shaking, or deliberately making a child physically ill (Berk, 2010). Sexual abuse involves any sexual contact between an adult, regardless of guardianship status, and a minor child.
This abuse ranges from sexual touching and exposing their bodies in public to sexual intercourse and commercial exploitation through prostitution or pornography (Berk, 2010). Emotional abuse typically involves an adult ignoring a childs emotional and psychological needs (Herrenkohl, Hong, Klika, Herrenkohl, & Russo, 2013).
Abandonment can have consequences that are similar to abuse for child development. It is commonly divided into two types. Physical neglect is an adult parent or guardian neglecting a childs physical needs for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and cleanliness (Blair et al., 2015).
Other forms of abandonment include emotional rejection where a parent, guardian, or caregiver partially or completely detaches himself or herself from the emotional needs of a child. Social neglect occurs when parents or caregivers detach themselves from the social needs of the child.
Child abuse is considered a serious issue because it has long-term consequences for a childs physical, mental, social, and cognitive wellbeing. These child exploitation issues form the foundation for this study that seeks to explore the effects of child abuse on the children, organizations, and the government.
Problem Statement
Children are a responsibility of themselves, their parents, social and academic institutions, and the government. Parents and other caregivers take responsibility of caring for their children and explaining the most important living issues to them.
Following the close relationship that children have with their caregivers, they learn and trust them as guides in life. However, child abusers who may be parents, relatives, or strangers violate the trust that children have in them (Cronley, Jeong, Davis & Madden, 2015).
Each child should have the opportunity to have a safe upbringing. However, an unknown number of children continue experiencing serious traumas because of abuse and parental neglect (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Child maltreatment and neglect restrict a persons life.
Child abuse has a number of effects on how people behave, develop their abilities, and/or comprehend their duties (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa, Tajima, Herrenkohl, & Russo, 2010). It causes many behavioral problems.
Sousa et al. (2011) reveal how child abuse and other cases of domestic violence considerably influence children and their further development. They become less attached to their caregivers, demonstrate antisocial behavior when they are adolescents, and/or become bad examples to their children or people around them.
It is not easy to recover from child abuse and trauma (Lemoncelli, 2012). People need professional help and explanations regarding why child abuse may take place and the effects that may be observed (Sansen et al., 2014).
Research by Sansen et al. (2014) has noted that children, who experience maltreatment if left alone or untreated, can be at a heightened probability of having future issues concerning their behaviors and emotions.
The problem of child abuse remains crucial for analysis, as people must understand its effects on human behavior and the urgency in preventing abuse.
Integrated Literature Review
Various studies have been carried out in an effort to address the issue of child abuse. Literature on child abuse is common in psychology, human rights and law, and education. Therefore, this study will explore the available literature on child abuse with the aim of identifying the existing information gaps that need to be filled.
Various authors have explored the area of child abuse.
For instance, Gloud, Clarke, Heim, Harvey, Majer, and Nemeroff (2012) discuss two main types of child abuse effects, namely neurocognitive aspects such as problems with visual memory, executive functioning, and spatial working memory (p. 503), and emotional problems and stresses that may bother children through their whole lifespan.
Gloud et al.s (2012) study aims at providing a practical perspective of how the problem of child abuse can be noticed and solved.
Although special stress-management professionals can provide counseling, it is hard to figure out how consequences such as anger or social misunderstanding can be totally removed and/or whether additional investigations are required to explain how the society can understand and address child abuse effects (Lemoncelli, 2012).
Treatment for child abuse varies considerably because people are eager to offer helpful ideas and unique approaches. Some researchers have found it effective to focus on one particular aspect. For example, Moylan et al. (2010) view behavioral changes as the main problem that has to be solved.
Cloitre, Cohen, and Koenen (2011) regard mistreatment as a distressing vice that has to be analyzed and prevented through physiological, objective, or communal interventions by either the victim or the immediate caregivers. Iwaniec (2006) explains that the encouragement of cognitive self-regulation can solve the effects of child abuse.
The results of hypnosis, one means of treatment, prove that trauma types vary and that each effect should be thoroughly analyzed and considered from a professional point of view (Degun-Mather, 2006).
By analyzing certain financial operations, Fang, Brown, Florence, and Mercy (2012) identify the economic burden that relates to child abuse. They report that more than $30,000 is spent on each childs health care costs.
Considering that more than 600,000 American children are defined as maltreatment victims annually, the actual sums are enormous (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Adults should understand that they steal from themselves when they demonstrate poor treatment to their children by making them suffer.
It seems better to follow some preventive ideas and suggestions and regard their importance since they help to decrease the number of disabled children in a society (Stalker & McArthur, 2012).
Acts of child abuse either sexual, physical, neglect, or emotional may completely alter the way children interact with the world (Khaleque, 2015). The relationship that children have with people in their immediate environment is highly dependent on their early socialization.
Their additional self-esteem foundation struggles with obstacles such as attempts to get along with other people (Berk, 2010). Some experts try to compare several consequences at the same time and explain how psychological, societal, physical, and behavioral issues predetermine a future member of a society.
The prevalence of child abuse is a common phenomenon in most parts of the world (Suglia, Clark, Boynton-Jarrett, Kressin & Koenen, 2014). Even if people think that they are far from such troubles, it is necessary to remember that they may communicate, work, or interact with people who have suffered from child abuse once.
This claim reveals why people have to know more about the effects of child abuse, the possible ways to treat people with such problems, ideas on how to help them, or ways to negate the abuse of the past. Mistreated children are found in all parts of society.
However, many mistreated children whom government agencies investigate come from ephemeral families whose members have little or no education. Gloominess, low financial standing, little or no earnings, and shoddy accommodation characterize them (Khaleque, 2015).
Antisocial behavior is one of the outcomes of child abuse and parental neglect that may be disclosed in a variety of forms (Sousa et al., 2011).
In comparison with other studies and investigations that have been mentioned above, Sousa et al.s (2011) research underlines the importance of social approaches and the role of society in general on children and their relations with their parents.
Children are fully dependent on parents, guardians, or primary caregivers until a point where they can be self-reliant in life (Lanier, Kohl, Raghavan & Auslander, 2015). However, due to incidents of abuse, some children opt to run away from abusive caregivers in the early years of their lives.
In fact, in some instances, abusive parents are forcefully separated from their children by law enforcers. Hence, a historical issue can help to comprehend the reason behind a current problem.
Although some scholars such as Corby, Shemmings, and Wilkins (2012) assert that it is not possible to eliminate the problem of child abuse, the world is currently witnessing increased interventions.
Such interventions include civic education, parental counseling, and enactment of anti-corporal punishment laws in various states, including the US (Malcolm, 2012). In 1870, animal protection was placed above childrens protection through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Child labor laws were legislated in 1906. However, the laws did not give security from other forms of maltreatment. Some children could not even guess how they became the victims of child abuse. They believed that their parents maltreatment was something ordinary that could not be changed.
Although the reasons for parental neglect may vary, the effects of child abuse are all the same since they destroy a personality or at least provoke unpleasant changes. As soon as a person is changed because of being abused physically, sexually, emotionally, or psychologically at home, the world undergoes certain changes.
Synthesis and Integration
Previous studies on child abuse indicate that trauma that a child experiences early in life can considerably increase the risk of numerous psychological and emotional problems (Shapero, Black, Liu, Klugman, Bender, & Alloy, 2014). Such problems lead to depression, emotional disorders, and stresses, which are usually hard to control and treat.
In spite of the fact that about 10 million children suffer from domestic violence, abuse, and parental neglect, little research has been conducted to help to support children who are under the threat of child abuse (Stalker & McArthur, 2012; Moylan et al., 2010).
People do not deny the fact that they know much about child abuse, its reasons, and effects. However, they do not want to develop the steps that can prevent the cases and/or provide children with appropriate care and understanding.
The nature of the effects of child abuse, its consequences in a society, and the most appropriate preventive methods should be considered (Lanier et al., 2015).
Child abuse and parental neglect are the two main problems that the current paper has discussed to prove that their effects are worth attention and recognition so they can be solved and prevented to provide children with the treatment and support they require.
The current study is based on a variety of sources. The four peer-reviewed articles create a solid basis for research. They disclose such topics as the effects of child abuse on behavior problems (Moylan et al., 2010) and child abuse and its effects on cognitive development in adulthood (Gloud et al., 2012).
They also present the necessity to integrate gender, age, and socio-cultural factors in preventing child abuse at home (Stalker & McArthur, 2012) and the attention to the economic aspect of child maltreatment (Fang et al., 2012).
In countries such as the United States and Britain, people know a little about how child abuse disables children. Adults do not want to understand how crucial the effects of their neglect can be on their children.
They can observe that their children may become more socially isolated and depressed without connecting the change to any reason (Moylan et al., 2010). However, they can hardly realize how many changes take place inside the child. A childs personality is sensitive.
Any kind of maltreatment or shortage of attention may create a gap in development and cause emotional disorders that can appear in several years or even decades (Gloud et al., 2012).
In addition, the effects of child abuse may be of a financial character because child maltreatment usually leads to criminal justice costs, child welfare costs, with about $25 billion of federal, state, and local funds spent annually, and special education costs because maltreated children are in need of special education programs (Fang et al., 2012).
Fang et al.s (2012) study shows a projected total yearly fiscal load of $124 billion concerning child maltreatment in the United States. Such numbers and effects should keep people from being indifferent to the issue of child abuse and its prevention.
In general, child abuse is a topic for discussion in many countries since it has a long history and a variety of effects (Shapero et al., 2014). Children may not even guess that they are victims of their parents neglect. They cannot understand the reasons for their emotional or psychological problems.
They sometimes try to use the help of specialists to learn what happened. However, the nature of child abuse effects is unpredictable.
Many people do not fully know how many long-term and immediate effects of child abuse and parental neglect exist and how varied their nature is. Maltreatment of children may lead to a variety of problems, ranging from anxiety, smoking, or drug use to improper brain, language development, or cancer risks.
The paper confirms that people do not pay enough attention to the problem of child abuse. Children face many challenges while trying to overcome the results of parental neglect. Hence, long-term and short-term child abuse effects, including physical, psychological, cognitive, and economic problems, continue bothering many people.
Based on the extent to which the issue of child abuse has been manifested in many countries, including the US, this research proposes the need to implement campaigns on child abuse, its effects, and the expected bright future of kids who do not face abuse during their childhood (Suglia et al., 2014, p.12).
Child maltreatment is a leading problem whose solution requires the involvement of people from different spheres of life. The effects of the problem touch many people and not just the children who suffer from maltreatment and the neglectful and abusive parents.
The effects also reach medical workers who have to solve the cognitive, development, and other physical child abuse problems. The effects also touch caregivers who aim at providing children with the required portion of knowledge about the world and life.
Other people in the society who interact with the victims of abuse as either children or adults also experience the effects.
The solutions to the problems that are defined in this project have to be properly organized and based on credible information and results of the aforementioned observations. Child abuse touches millions of families (Cloitre et al., 2011).
Some children who face sexual or physical abuse have psychological problems because of parental neglect (Lemoncelli, 2012). The outcomes of child abuse usually depend on a variety of factors such as the age of a child, the type of relationship between a child and a perpetrator, and the type of maltreatment.
This observation reveals why the chosen problem of child abuse effects is deemed the most crucial issue in this project.
In general, the evaluation of the behavior of the children who suffer from abuse and parental neglect shows that the effects are long-term and short-term (Sousa et al., 2011; Yang, 2015). Parents do not always recognize how hazardous their ill-treatment can be concerning the future of their kids.
Parents sometimes do not ask for professional help since they are afraid of criminal consequences. This situation leads to a considerable rise in the financial costs of child abuse (Fang et al., 2012). Professional help and therapy are obligatory for children who are the victims of maltreatment and abuse.
As this research confirms, the effects of child abuse are far-reaching and that they need to be addressed proactively to save and secure the future of the affected children (Cloitre et al., 2011).
Problem Resolution
Completed researches by Fang et al., (2012) and Moylan et al., (2010) have provided several ideas of how the chosen problem of child abuse should be evaluated together with several methods that can be implemented to solve it.
Because the effects of child abuse and parental neglect are a social issue, it (the issue) has to be solved within a particular society. The problem-solution process should begin with the identification of a community in which a child abuse campaign can be done as a way of creating awareness to the society.
The goal of the campaign is to present to the community the dangers that are associated with child abuse and the strategies that all stakeholders can adopt to secure the kids lives. It is necessary to prove that child abuse is a vital problem and that the issue of parental neglect and maltreatment needs more answers and explanations.
It is not enough to use the current statistics and base the project on the fact that more than half a million American children are the victims of their parents maltreatment.
The solution of the problem under consideration should be based on the following steps:
The identification of the reasons for child abuse and parental neglect.
The classification of child abuse effects and their possible extent.
The identification of preventive methods that can be used for each type of abuse.
The formation of a description of a diagnosis and the identification of treatment for children who suffer from abuse.
The development of ideas to involve more people to protect children who are not able to cope with the challenges of abuse and neglect.
Social Implications
The social implications of the chosen problem are crucial. First, the project serves as a powerful proof that child abuse is a problem that needs discussion and attention. Secondly, it should be proven that a society as a whole is the body that takes responsibility for its children.
If children suffer from the inability to overcome abuse and neglect, the society should find the most effective methods to improve the situation. Finally, the development of special programs and the creation of special organizations that are directed to the treatment of abused children should be promoted.
For example, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network aims to identify the standards of care for abused children. Many organizations use hypnosis with children who survive traumas from their parents maltreatment (Degun-Mather, 2006). Although these methods are effective, they only reduce the cases of child abuse by improving parentchildren relations.
The current project should help to define the effects of child abuse and contribute to the prevention of maltreatment, taking into consideration the evaluation of a childs condition, health, and the effects of abuse. Fang et al. (2012) identify short-term and long-term healthcare costs.
Sousa et al. (2011) address the societal tribulations, while Moylan et al. (2010) focus on behavioral tribulations. Each investigation addresses a specific aspect of why child abuse should be prevented. However, the researchers do not recommend the best strategy that can be applied to address the vice.
Such insufficient information on the issue is part of the main limitations of this paper. However, the social implications of the project that is under analysis confirm the possibility of changing the situation when certain measures are taken as discussed above.
Capstone Reflection
A number of considerable marks characterize the problems that people face during their childhood. Children cannot even guess that parental neglect may define their future qualities and abilities. Some children cannot even recognize a case of child abuse.
Parents or caregivers of the affected children do not find it necessary to visit some experts for help (Stalker & McArthur, 2012). The identification of such problems and inabilities serve as the basis for the project about child abuse and its effects.
Children may suffer from emotional, physical, sexual, and other forms of abuse (Cloitre, 2011). Each type of abuse has its own effects on a child. Hence, it is not only necessary but also crucial to know how to help children who survive abuse and treat them properly.
The capstone project under analysis is an opportunity to persuade parents to make wise decisions to treat their children, learn the effects that can be observed after the cases of child abuse, and know how to prevent any further maltreatment.
The projects by Degun-Mather (2006) about the benefits of hypnosis, Fang et al. (2012) about the economic challenges that are caused by child abuse, and Moylan et al. (2010) about the peculiarities of domestic violence are crucial in this study.
They explain how it is better to identify the effects of child abuse and the possible impact of the menace on the society, children, and their parents.
Reference List
Berk, E. (2010). Development through the lifespan. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Child maltreatment: Consequences. Web.
Cloitre, M., Cohen, R., & Koenen, C. (2011). Treating survivors of childhood abuse: Psychotherapy for the interrupted life. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Corby, B., Shemmings, D., & Wilkins, D. (2012). Child abuse: An evidence base for confident practice. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Cronley, C., Jeong, S., Davis, B., & Madden, E. (2015). Effects of Homelessness and Child Maltreatment on the Likelihood of Engaging in Property and Violent Crime During Adulthood. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 25(3), 192-203.
Degun-Mather, M. (2006). Hypnosis, dissociation and survivors of child abuse: Understanding and treatment. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Fang, X., Brown, S., Florence, S., & Mercy, A. (2012). The economic burden of Child maltreatment in the United States and implications for prevention. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36(2), 156165.
Girgira, T., Tilahun, B., & Bacha, T. (2014). Time to presentation, pattern and immediate health effects of alleged child sexual abuse at two tertiary hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1-12.
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Herrenkohl, T. I., Hong, S., Klika, J. B., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Russo, M. J. (2013). Developmental impacts of child abuse and neglect related to adult mental health, substance use, and physical health. Journal of Family Violence, 28(2), 191199.
Iwaniec, D. (2006). The emotionally abused and neglected child: Identification, assessment and intervention. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Jaffee, R., & Maikovich-Fong, K. (2011). Effects of chronic maltreatment and maltreatment timing on childrens behavior and cognitive abilities. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 52(2), 184-194.
Khaleque, A. (2015). Perceived Parental Neglect, and Childrens Psychological Maladjustment, and Negative Personality Dispositions: A Meta-analysis of Multi-cultural Studies. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 24(5), 1419-1428.
Lanier, P., Kohl, L., Raghavan, R., & Auslander, W. (2015). A Preliminary Examination of Child Well-Being of Physically Abused and Neglected Children Compared to a Normative Pediatric Population. Child Maltreatment, 20(1), 72-79.
Lemoncelli, J. (2012). Healing from childhood abuse: Understanding the effects, taking control to recover. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Malcolm, M. (2012). Can buy me love: the effect of child welfare expenditures on maltreatment outcomes. Applied Economics, 44(28), 3725-3736.
McCullough, C., & Shaffer, A. (2014). Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Externalizing Problems: Moderating Effects of Emotionally Maltreating Parenting Behaviors. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 23(2), 389-398.
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), 5363.
Parton, N. (2013). Contemporary developments in child protection. Web.
Sansen, M., Iffland, B., & Neuner, F. (2014). Peer victimization predicts psychological symptoms beyond the effects of child maltreatment. Psychiatry Research, 220(3), 1051-1058.
Shapero, G., Black, K., Liu, T., Klugman, J., Bender, E., & Alloy, B. (2014). Stressful Life Events and Depression Symptoms: The Effect of Childhood Emotional Abuse on Stress Reactivity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(3), 209-223.
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 childrens exposure to domestic violence, parent-child attachments, and antisocial behavior in adolescence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(1), 111136.
Stalker, K., & McArthur, K. (2012). Child abuse, child protection and disabled children: A review of recent research. Child Abuse Review, 21(1), 2440.
Suglia, F., Clark, J., Boynton-Jarrett, R., Kressin, R., & Koenen, C. (2014). Child maltreatment and hypertension in young adulthood. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1-15.
Widom, C. S., Czaja, S. J., Bentley, T., & Johnson, M. S. (2012). A prospective investigation of physical health outcomes in abused and neglected children: New findings from a 30-year follow-up. American Journal of Public Health, 102(6), 11351144.
Yang, M. (2015). The effect of material hardship on child protective service involvement. Child Abuse & Neglect, 41(2), 113-125.
Available literature demonstrates that effective advocacy plans and policies are of immense importance in addressing the dynamics of child abuse within the school context (Barett, Lester, & Durham, 2011). This paper explains how two schools advocate for children regarding the prevention of child abuse, before providing a critique of the advocacy plans and outlining several recommendations for optimal outcomes.
Explaining the Advocacy Plans
From the interview conducted with the school administrator of the local elementary school (K3) and the director of a local preschool (birth to pre-K), it is clear that both institutions have some advocacy plans for the prevention of child abuse. The advocacy plans in the local elementary school include routine lectures and counseling sessions that aim to provide K3 students with the capacity to identity child abuse instances and seek assistance from teachers, church leaders, community leaders, parents, guardians, and significant others.
As part of the elementary schools advocacy program against child abuse, parents and guardians are also invited to open day seminars to receive education on child abuse and neglect, solving family and marital issues, dealing with physically and mentally abused children, and preventing the reappearance of child abuse within the family.
The advocacy plans in the local preschool include using illustrations placed at strategic locations within the school to encourage young children to share their problems with teachers and expose abusive relationships in the family or school. The preschool also undertakes child/parent counseling, family-based support and home-visiting programs to prevent child abuse through family strengthening; however, these programs experience myriad challenges including lack of community support and inadequate funding.
Critique
Drawing from this explanation, it can be argued that the schools have taken a proactive stand in pursuing an ethical responsibility of advocating for the prevention of child abuse.
However, according to the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), the advocacy plans of these schools are not thorough due to absence of other advocacy dynamics that relate specifically to child abuse, such as social support for abused children, healthy growth and development, child rights, racial prejudices and child abuse, and sexual identity issues in child welfare (CWLA, 2013).
It may not be enough to give lectures and counseling sessions aimed at identifying child abuse instances, as such an orientation does not identify the root causes of child abuse. However, disseminating knowledge and information on how cultural, identity, and racial considerations impact child abuse in the American society may be instrumental in designing effective prevention and advocacy approaches (National Childrens Advocacy Center, 2014).
Additionally, the advocacy plans of the two schools do not demonstrate how they identify the unmet needs of children and how they take actions to substantially change the conditions that lead to the problem of child abuse (Barett et al., 2011). The successful identification of unmet needs is critical in designing effective prevention strategies for child abuse.
Lastly, the advocacy plans of the two schools address the identification of abused children in home or school environments but fail to provide benchmarks that could be used by teachers and other relevant players in recognizing trauma or abuse in home or classroom contexts (Bell, Limberg, & Robinson, 2013).
Recommendations for Advocacy Plans
As demonstrated in the literature, effective advocacy efforts dealing with child abuse must have the capacity to address the cultural, racial, and identity considerations that come into play to cause child maltreatment (Cyr, Michael, & Dumais, 2013; Maiter & Stalker, 2011); identify the childs unmet needs and provide viable solutions and action plans to meet these needs (Barett et al., 2011); and provide quantifiable benchmarks that could be used by activists and other interested parties in recognizing, preventing, and treating child trauma and abuse in home or school (Bell et al., 2013). The successful identification of these unmet needs, in my view, is instrumental in the development of focused approaches to prevent child abuse.
Additionally, the schools might improve their child abuse advocacy plans by desisting from focusing on two points of interaction (child and patient/guardian) and rolling out advocacy interventions at the individual student level, the school and community level, and the broader public arena (Barett et al., 2011, p. 88).
Such a predisposition, in my view, not only provides various avenues through which information and knowledge on child abuse prevention can be shared, but also encourages the conceptualization and internalization of a bigger frame of reference on the challenges, limitations, and inequities that are often faced by abused children.
Knowledge of these challenges, limitations, and inequalities will assist school administrators and counselors to develop and implement empowerment focused interventions that not only foster the progression of healthy interpersonal and conflict management competencies (Bamba, 2010; Barett et al., 2011), but also outline a greater responsibility for the relevant parties to identify and address the prevention strategies associated with childhood trauma and abuse (Bell et al., 2013).
Conclusion
Overall, there is need for the two schools to incorporate the discussed improvements in their advocacy plans for the prevention of child abuse to effectively deal with this phenomenon that is affecting millions of children in the United States and abroad.
Although these schools have some advocacy plans for child abuse prevention (e.g., routine lectures and counseling sessions, open day seminars for parents and guardians, family support and home-visiting programs), they need to include advocacy plans on a whole range of factors (e.g., addressing cultural and identity considerations in child maltreatment, identifying unmet needs and providing quantifiable benchmarks to recognize and prevent child abuse) to achieve successful outcomes.
References
Bamba, S. (2010). The experiences and perspectives of Japanese substitute caregivers and maltreated children: A cultural-developmental approach to child welfare practice. Social Work, 55(2), 127-137.
Barett, K.M., Lester, S.V., & Durham, J.C. (2011). Child maltreatment and the advocacy role of professional school counselors. Journal of School Action in Counseling and Psychology, 3(2), 85-102.
Bell, H., Limberg, D., & Robinson, E. (2013). Recognizing trauma in the classroom: A practical guide for educators. Childhood Education, 89(3), 139-145.
Cyr, C., Michael, G., & Dumais, M. (2013). Child maltreatment as a global phenomenon: From Trauma to prevention. International Journal of Psychology, 48(2), 141-148.
Maiter, S., & Stalker, C. (2011). South Asian immigrants experience of child protection services: Are we recognizing strengths and resilience. Child & Family Social Work, 16(2), 138-148.
National Childrens Advocacy Center. (2014). Victim advocacy training November 4-6, 2014.
The menace of child abuse in society is no news. There are several child training practices that adversely affect the well-being of a child. These experiences form the behavior patterns of these children and they grow up to become dysfunctional adults in society.
There are many perceptions of child abuse, diverse views, opinions, and definitions. The World health organization defines child abuse as all forms of physical or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial or other exploitation resulting in the actual or potential harm to a child’s health, survival, development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
I will go with a simple one. First, let us establish that a child is someone below the age of eighteen. Child abuse is physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment. Child abuse can also be referred to as child maltreatment. It is an intentional trauma inflicted on a child. When a parent, caregiver, guardian, instructor, or relative causes emotional or physical harm to a child through their words, actions, and behavior, that child is being abused. When adults inflict emotional pain or physical injury to a child through their actions or inactions, it is a clear case of child abuse. Child abuse causes actual or threatens harm to a child. In severe cases, it could lead to the death of the child.
In all incidences of child abuse, the abuser is someone unknown to the child. Yes, they are seldom strangers. It is he who knows the way to the kitchen that often has the boldness to steal meat from the pot. It is usually the people they trust and hold in high esteem that are often the perpetrators of this evil. Child abuse is evil. It is people who know their way around these children that have access to cause them pain. These abusers are their close relatives (uncles, aunts, and cousins), family members, teachers, guardians, foster parents, caretakers, nannies, neighbors, babysitters, domestic staff, family friends, and even their parents. All forms of abuse can be committed by both genders.
There are different forms of child abuse. They include; Physical abuse, verbal abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, exploitation, or emotional abuse. One form of abuse often transcends to another. Physical abuse is an action that inflicts pain or injury on a child’s body. Physical abuse includes; severe beating, hitting, kicking, slapping, hair pulling scalding, strangling, biting, burning, shaking, or suffocating. It uses involves violence against a child. This form of abuse is predominant among domestic staff and adopted children. It is the most easily recognized form of abuse because they are characterized by visible evidence. When a child constantly bears scars, scratch or cane marks, bruises, welts, broken bones, lacerations, swelling, or multiple injuries on his body, it becomes a reason to worry.
Even if the child is defiant, there are certainly other ways of disciplining a child. You do not throw away the baby and the bathwater. There should be moderation in everything. Why kill your child or render their handicap in a quest to instill discipline? A minimum amount of physical punishment is acceptable when a child misbehaves. However, constantly inflicting injures on a child is simply going overboard. If your disciplinary actions are not bearing positive results in your child, you may want to consider changing your parenting module. If you have anger management issues, you have no business being a parent or employing domestic staff. There is such a thing as human relation skills and emotional intelligence. Forcing a child to ingest harmful substances like contaminated food, hot spices, soap, detergent or harmful drugs is also a form of physical abuse.
We may be deceived into dismissing these incidences as mere domestic accidents but a closer look would prove otherwise. Children who are physically abused are often afraid, timid, and withdrawn. They do not socialize easily and avoid physical contact with others. They seem frightened at the sight of the abuser. In fact, this sign goes for all forms of child abuse. Once the abuser comes within close range, the child becomes edgy and uneasy. They become extremely careful with their choice of words and actions. Children who are physically abuses are often clad in overall clothes to hide the result of the abuse. You will hardly see them in shorts, knee-length skirts, or sleeveless clothes. They ways dress to veil the scar. Some of these children die carelessly in the hands of their abusers. Those who survive, live with the trauma years after the physical injury heals.
Emotional abuse is an attack on a child’s esteem and self-worth. It is usually expressed through verbal insults and abusive words. When an adult constantly talks down on a child affects his mind and hurts his emotions. Emotional abuse includes; constant shouting, berating, harsh/excessive criticism, spurning, humiliating, terrorizing, exploiting, loud yelling, name-calling, rejection, ridicule, degradation, torture, isolation, and ignoring a child’s will destroy that child. Emotional abuse disrupts a child’s mental and social development. It makes them think less of themselves. Your job is to build and mentor them not hurt them. Be careful of the words you speak to them. Life and death lie in the power of the tongue. Keep a guard over your tongue. Your words can either build or maim them. Under no circumstance should you use hurtful, harmful, foul, or dirty words on a child? Don’t try to fend yourself by saying you didn’t mean it. What you say may stick with them for a lifetime. Once you speak those harmful words, they can be retrieved or forgotten. I understand that children can be a handful sometimes but you must control yourself. Avoid speaking to them in the feat of anger because you may not be able to repair the damage incurred by your words.
They taught parents to ask themselves these five questions before they speak to their children. Think before you speak. Don’t be controlled by emotions and sentiments. Before you accuse that child of stealing from you, be sure that your allegations are true. Before you open your mouth to speak to a child, evaluate your words. Ensure that they are helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind? Also, consider if it is necessary. Don’t fuzz over trivial issues. You don’t have to shout and scold about every little thing. What will go wrong if you decide to ignore an insignificant offense just this once? Words are seeds and they determine the outcome of that child in the future.
Emotional abuse is one of the forms of child abuse that can be easily slighted because there is usually no physical evidence. Emotional abuse affects a child psychologically. It destroys a child’s self-image. It causes low self-esteem, self-blame, learned helplessness, and lack of self-confidence. It also makes them hostile and aggressive to their peers.
Sexual abuse can be the cruelest form of child abuse. It is the involvement of children in sexual activities which they are not mature enough to fully comprehend. When an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual purposes, gratification, stimulation, or excitement, it is sexual abuse. Sexual abusive includes, touching a child’s body inappropriately, spying on a child in the bedroom or bathroom, forcing a child to undress or perform sexual acts, and rape. It could be done for personal satisfaction or financial reward. Children who are sexually abused suffer guilt, insomnia, nightmares, low self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, chronic pain, mental instability, sexual addiction, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and suicidal thoughts. Both male and female children are victims of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is often perpetrated by people who are familiar with this child. They are people the child believes can do him no harm. Parents must learn to protect their children from every wolf in sheep clothing.
Neglect is the failure of parents or guardians to provide for the basic needs of a child. It involves the inability to provide food, clothing, shelter, security, medical care, quality time, and supervision for the child. Anybody who has custody of a child whether as the biological parent or guardian should be able to cater to the needs of that child. The need for family planning cannot be overemphasized. Parents are advised to bear as many children as they can comfortably train. Anyone who does not have a steady source of income or who cannot fend for himself should stay off childbearing for it while. These children never asked to be born. It is unfair to bring innocent children into the world just for them to suffer. A parent or guardian should have the resources to cater to the needs of the child. The child’s well-being and welfare should not be threatened in any way. Some evidence of child neglect includes; frequent absence from school, starvation, begging or stealing food or money, poor body grooming, lack of medical and dental care, consistent dirtiness, and lack of sufficient clothing.
Child neglect also comes in the form of a lack of attention, love, and nurturing. Most parents are engrossed in their pursuit of wealth that they lose rights to their children. Parents should be able to spend quality time with their children. That bonding will be beneficial to both parties. It is the absence of parents in the lives of their children that often exposes them to all forms of abuse and negative content. Child upbringing is the sole responsibility of parents and should not be delegated to any other individual. Neglected children often become victims of low physical, mental and psychosocial development. Such children often grow up with commitment issues. Most of them will find the building and sustaining relationships very challenging later in life.
Child labor is another serious form of child abuse. Child labor is strenuous work performed by children which endangers their health. Child labor is a product of neglect. It is often the fate of children poor into improvised homes. Families suffering from poverty often push their children into child labor. When the parents or guardians cannot afford the basic needs of a child, they are forced to take on menial jobs to earn ends meet. Other times, it is a result of sheer exploitation by foster parents and guardians. Any work that denies a child the right to education is abuse. Any work that hinders the mental and physical development of a child is abuse. We may argue that some work could help the child develop vocational skills and a sense of responsibility. However, employability and labor are for adults, not children. It is the duty of parents to provide for their children, not the other way round. The labor market is no place for a child. It exposes them to abusers, predators, and negative influence.
Child abuse causes more damage than we can imagine. It results in immediate or long-term adverse effects. First, it is a threat to their life. Child abuse is one of the causes of child mortality. You may call it a mistake but that mistake can swipe an innocent child’s future completely. It disrupts the proper development of children introducing dysfunctional behavioral patterns.
May I inform you, perhaps you are unaware. Most abused children grow up to become abusers themselves. They grow up to be maltreating adults. They become beasts who breed more beasts. It is a vicious cycle of re-victimization that never ends. You can run a background check on women beaters, rapists, and pedophiles. Chances are that they were once victims of abuse. Child abuse is one of the underlying triggers of personality disorders, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, substance abuse, alcohol addiction, aggression, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, cognitive impairment, adoption of health-risk behaviors, dissociative trauma, and early death. Child abuse is a beast that will continually hunt us if we do not tame it now.
The only way we can curb child abuse is by doing right by our children and wards. You should be their superhero, protector, and guardian. Do not be the one to inflict pain on them. Be a nurturing parent. Provide all the necessary resources your children need for their growth and development. Do not birth babies if you are not ready to have one. If you do give birth, please do right by that child. Let your children know that you love and care for them. Always affirm your love for them with kind words. Remind them of their worth. Encourage them to pursue their dreams even if it is not what you would have desired for them. Learn to administer discipline with a touch of moderation. There are other ways of encouraging good behavior in children aside from physical punishments. Please stop using your children as a vent for your anger and frustration. Deal with your inner demons privately and do not get them involved. When you seem overwhelmed by the troubles of life, take a time to sort yourself out. Do not take it out on your kids. Correct them in love. If you know nothing about parenting, go educate yourself. Perhaps you became a parent by accident or you had to fill in for someone. Sort of good materials on parenting and learn how to do it the right way.
Teach your children defense strategies against abusers and predators. No matter how hard you try cannot always be physically present with your children. You can’t sit with them all day in the classroom; you can go with them to summer camp or sleepovers. Remember you’ve got a life to live. The most you can do is to teach them what to do if danger arises in your absence. Supervise and regularly your child’s televisions, video games, print media, and internet consumption. Not everything out there is good for them. Be their friend and confidant so they can easily tell you everything without filters.
Raise awareness about child abuse. Children and parents should be educated on all forms of child abuse. They need to be aware that these things are real and they could happen to anyone. Teach them never to let their guards down because anyone could be suspect including; friends, relatives, family members, teachers, neighbors, church members, pastors, schoolmates, etc. Such training sessions should include a talk on self-defense, how to avoid risky situations, how to recognize signs of an abuser, understanding patterns of abuse, how to respond to abuse (if it happens), and how to seek professional help and intervention. Teach them their rights and how to protect their rights.
Report all cases of suspected child abuse. Do not encourage child abuse in any way or form. If you see any pieces of evidence of abuse or witness a child being harmed or abused, please report to the necessary authority immediately, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. Report the offense immediately. Do not coax abused children to hide their pain. Teach them to speak out and expose the abuser. That is the first step to healing. Tell them they did the right thing by speaking up and reassure them that it was never their fault. Help them seek professional counseling and therapy.
Children are precious gifts from children. They were created to be loved not abused. Say no to child abuse.
The Roman Catholic Church has failed to protect its church members from falling victim to sodomy to a larger extent. It is evident that the Church leadership has played a pivotal role in enabling the clergy and religious perpetrators to inflict such abuse on members of its congregation by way of concealed re-assignment, coverup and by sheltering the accused from accountability in the secular community. Although legal action may have been taken in some cases this was done illicitly, subjugating victims into passive submission.
Allegations of sexual abuse within the church date back to the 1950s, however, it was in the early 2000s that the Church sexual abuse sparked as a major global issue. The epidemic drew major attention through the Boston Globe newspaper’s exposure of not only the widespread clerical abuse but also the intent to which the church went to cover up these crimes by suppressing investigations. ()
The catholic church adopted a policy of secrecy making the handling of clergy sex abuse an internal matter. The church leaderships obsessional devotion to ecclesiastical traditions and its inclination to protect its own stature at the expense of the laity allowed for the continual concealment of the severity of abuse within the church. Research on the rampant abuse case uncovered the systematic approach the church took in its deception of their crimes.
In early November 200l that Michael Rezendes of Boston Globe first uncovered the explosive documents containing evidence of a group of pending civil cases against ex-Catholic priest John Geoghan who had been accused of sexual abuse by over 100 people. Geoghan had reportedly taken “sick leave” before he reemerged at another parish in which he allegedly molested a further 7 boys. Martin Baron, the editor of the Boston Globe at the time had instructed the spotlight team to look into the case further and uncover whether Geoghan’s case could be seen as part of a pattern of sexual abuse allegations against priests and furthermore whether or not the church’s leadership had taken any action against the perpetrators or helped in concealing their criminal misconduct.
It was later discovered by the Spotlight team that the Catholic church had been paying off numerous victims in order to prevent them from filing lawsuits against priests who had been involved in sexual misconduct. Several cases similar to Geoghans surfaced, nevertheless, the Catholic church continued to treat cases as isolated instances failing to admit to the predatory pattern that had emerged within the parish.
With the Spotlight team’s knowledge of Geoghan taking “sick leave” between moving amongst parishes, the team began their meticulous scrutinization of 17 years’ worth of public directories which were published by the respective churches, giving all the priests in the archdioceses’ status and location giving specific acknowledgement of ‘on the shelf’ designations. The cross-examination of this information proved nothing concrete however it proved to play a vital role in the investigation as the spotlight team found many of the priests, some which had come up previously in the investigation, to be placed on ‘on the shelf’ designations under a slew of labels such as ‘sick leave’, ‘unassigned’, ‘absent on leave’, ‘emergency response’ or ‘transferred to foreign missions’, any status they could give misconducted priests in order to conceal the truth of what was really going on. By the time the reporter’s examination of the directories was completed they had identified more than 100 priests with suspicious “on-the-shelf” designations. In moving the priests around the church was simply moving the issue around opening up opportunity for more victims to be taken advantage of and not allowing for the decent accountability needed to be taken by the perpetrators.
An additional way in which the spotlight team came to identify purported priestly perpetrators was by accumulating a list of lawyers who had been involved in cases regarding sexual abuse by priests, where the church had tried to take some form of action against the issue, however these cases had transpired in a clandestine manner. These lawyers led to pedophiliac cases which led to more lawyers leading to more cases. In many instances, the team found there to be large lacunae in the information stored on the computers that contained the case files. The team tried to gain access to the missing information by appealing to the courthouse, however, when they got there, they found that the files had been impounded as requested by the church after settlements had been reached to seal the records. It had been as though these lawsuits had simply never occurred. The Spotlight team were no longer going after single priests or the law, they understood the need to go after the institution itself because this was evidence of the extent to which the church went in attempt to systematically cover up the priestly rape rampage that had been occurring at the time.
In most catholic communities it was seen as an extreme honor to have a priest take active interest in one’s family. Members of the congregation went to great lengths to have priest’s involvement in their families, having them over for dinner and making use of the invaluable assistance priests as many of them offered the support of caretaking for families. Many priests took advantage of the poor and vulnerable state much of the laity found themselves in, people who were trusting of the church seeing it as an institution that was meant to care, support them, helping to guide them into living as devout Christians, however, the priests were actually the ones who failed to live puritanically themselves. Due to the congregation’s ignorance regarding the situation allowed the epidemic to evolve as they either never believed accusations brought against their ‘saintly’ priests or they merely put them off as a means to protect them, oblivious to the prevalent nature of the issue within their community. As said by one of the reporters, ‘if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one.’ Those belonging to the church had evidently all played a pivotal role in their active involvement in the epidemic as they remained silent, in turn silencing the voice of the victims. This exposed the power the priesthood knowingly had over the laity and the way in which it exploited this power.
Through the investigations undertaken by the Globe which included interviews of victims, some unwilling to speak, but all providing invaluable evidence regarding the issue, the systematic pattern followed in these instances had evidently been established; A priest would molester a child, someone would tell the church, in some cases illicit legal action would take place which ultimately resulted in paying victims into submission and silence, the priest would retire from their former parish under a series of ‘on the shelf’ labels and emerge somewhere else where they would continue to procure new victims to take advantage of, and so the pattern continued.
Child sexual abuse is extremely problematic in the world today. Although, child sexual abuse hardly ever ends up in death, the costs to the abused can be significant and continue through maturity (Johnson, 2004). While doctors and additional people are accountable for the well-being of kids and are ethically; in most nations, lawfully accountable for documenting their speculation of sexual abuse with children, all doctors and behavior counselors need to identify the adult penalties of sexual abuse in children (Johnson, 2004).
Dissimilar from physical abuse, where individual experience and fiscal problems and fluctuating views about the helpfulness and risk of physical chastisement might haze the meaning, the description of what performances establish sexual abuse in children is infrequently discussed (Johnson, 2004). Child sexual abuse can be described as any action with children earlier than the age of lawful agreement which is for the sensual satisfaction of a grown-up or a considerably older child or teenager (Johnson, 2004). These actions comprise of oral sex, genital sex, anal sex, hand sex, any sort of bodily touching; introduction to sex acts; involuntary watching of sex acts; and screening porn to children or by putting children in the making of porn (Johnson, 2004). Watching or feeling on the private parts, backside, or upper body by prepubescent kids, that are not more than four years apart, where there has been no pressure or intimidation, is labeled sexual play (Johnson, 2004). Furthermore, the statistics of kids who are victims of sex abuse are questionably ever to be identified (Johnson, 2004). There are numerous explanations why all occurrences of child sexual abuse are not documented or made known (Johnson, 2004). Undeveloped or disabled kids may not have satisfactory skills to communicate that an incident has happened or give specifics (Johnson, 2004). Additionally, children may not be able to distinguish an act as inappropriate; this absence of acknowledgement is more possible if a woman caretaker is the offender (Johnson, 2004). Kids and adults can overlook or suppress unfriendly recollections or agree with requests for confidentiality (Johnson, 2004). Nations with inadequate financial capitals might not be able to maintain all documents of alleged sexual child abuse or to assemble and account for the data (Johnson, 2004).
Moreover, the penalties of maltreatment are both mental and physical (Johnson, 2004). Injured flesh is expected to heal without blemishing or other signs of healing, but emotional penalties can continue (Johnson, 2004). Getting pregnant and sexually-transmitted diseases consequently have permanent effects, in which some can be dangerous; future suicide attempts and mental costs such as PTSD can be just as significant (Johnson, 2004). Sexual abuse in children can have equally instantaneous and lasting contrary emotional effects that transfer over into when the child becomes an adult (Johnson, 2004). Offenders may vindicate their actions by signifying that the kid liked the involvement or enticed them (Johnson, 2004). The varied scale of significant long and short-term penalties of sex abuse in children, and the necessity to avert volatile abuse, in which other kids are abused by a victim of sexual abuse, is one purpose why all kids who are alleged of being a victim of sexual abuse should be evaluated for mental and emotional valuation and therapy (Johnson, 2004). Furthermore, other mental and emotional penalties, like depression, delay with the value of life (Johnson, 2004). The children who responds to abuse by committing sexual or physical abuse towards other children may be imprisoned, which could also have detrimental outcomes (Johnson, 2004). The behavior costs of sex abuse are determined by the kids age, growth, physical performances, intimidations and enticements, distress of payback, distress of liability, the child’s elasticity and connection to the offender and fruitful treatment (Johnson, 2004). Directly succeeding sex abuse, twenty percent to forty percent of mistreated children display mental and emotional complications. Sufferers of sexual child abuse remained at more jeopardy for apprehension as adolescents and grown-ups (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). They stood at approximately five times more probable than a control group of children not sexually abused to be arrested as grown-ups for sex wrongdoings in overall and approximately thirty times more likely than non-victims to be in prisoned for prostitution (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). Children that were a victim of sexual abuse were also abused physically or mistreated were more likely to be imprisoned as juvenile runaways (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). However, other than for the wrongdoing of prostitution, children who were sexual abuse sufferers were no more likely than sufferers of physical exploitation or maltreatment to be imprisoned as grown-ups (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). In addition, huge proportions of adults who have survived sexual abuse as a child exhibit indications and warnings of mental and emotional issues (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). Furthermore, it is said that sex abuse has been responsible for the complete variety of psychological illnesses defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995). The effects of sex abuse in children are even more deep when kids are maltreated by their dads or stepdads; when the ill-treatment comprises of power and contact with the child’s private parts. It is also to note that, feedback of the family and other people who are close and deals with the child directly whom are disclosed of the wrongdoing can also impact the child’s responses and rehabilitation. (Lurigio, Jones, Smith, 1995).
Moreover, a cautious or skilled offender that has history of sexually abusing children is improbable to do an act that could have an effect in his or her exposure results (Johnson, 2004). Instant thought or discovery is more possible if the kid has forceful and obstinate pain or bleeding, unless the offender can retain the disturbance from being discovered outcomes (Johnson, 2004). Also, children who are hurt possibly will be held in reserve from school or other caretakers who are adults until the child has recovered from their injuries (Johnson, 2004). There are kinds of abuse which includes as exhibitionism, prurience, watching or making porn, feeling, and licking, may not possibly have physical results (Johnson, 2004). Reddening of the skin produced by rubbing will be gone in minutes to hours unless the skin is really bruised (Johnson, 2004). Slight bruises of mucous membranes might not be noticeable (Johnson, 2004). The biggest concern is the tenacious deficiency of information that doctors have revealed about usual and irregular female genitals, such as misconception of conclusions can result to a misguided account of physical suffering, or the inability to identify trauma results (Johnson, 2004). ER doctor’s ought to be trained in the child female genital inspection and anal inspections results (Johnson, 2004). When children seen by ER doctors who found no evidence of trauma were re-examined a mean of 2·1 weeks later, 17% were found to have clear evidence of child sexual abuse conclusions (Johnson, 2004).
The national USA data specify that the dads and other family members were accountable for twenty-five percent and nineteen percent of children that were victims of sexual abuse (Johnson, 2004). Additionally, the other offenders were accountable for twenty-four percent of sufferer’s results (Johnson, 2004). The child’s parents were the offenders of forty-five percent of the cases of child sexual abuse results (Johnson, 2004).The percent of mothers committing sexual abuse on their own or with someone else was three percent of the results (Johnson, 2004). The father and mother were culprits in eight percent of documented cases (Johnson, 2004). The day-care employees were culprits in two percent of cases results (Johnson, 2004). Furthermore, six percent were younger than twenty years old and forty-five percent were between twenty and thirty-nine years old (Johnson, 2004). The amount of children being sexually abused was one per thousand for females and less than one per thousand for male results (Johnson, 2004). The sternness of penalties for the children are not determined by the age nor sex of the offender, but are manipulated by the sex of the prey and by cultural results (Johnson, 2004). These realities about the offender’s extant trials in preclusion results (Johnson, 2004). What can be done to train children be to identify and document sexual abuse when the offenders are likely to be reliable guardians, such as the mother and father, ministers, hospital employees, and teachers (Johnson, 2004). Moreover, because women that have been sexually abused may have difficulties with self-confidence, they may be more probable to unintentionally convey sympathetic people into their place o living who are possible sexual abusers (Johnson, 2004). Imprisoned offenders documented that they pursue kids who are accessible, effortlessly influenced, and have looked-for physical characteristics (Johnson, 2004). It is possible that these kids are to be discovered in single parent homes and to be unaccompanied and to themselves (Johnson, 2004). Sexual abuse offenders find defenseless children in playgrounds, at family events, and often nearby the offender’s home (Johnson, 2004). These sexual abusers claim to desire seduce and acquire confidence over intimidation by becoming their friend, doing fun things with them, and contributing gifts such as money and toys (Johnson, 2004). The most known intimidations comprise of abolishing and destroying precious objects (Johnson, 2004). Also, another group of offenders, whose typical age was forty-one years old in which they were in getting help, psych wards, on probation, or in prison when interviewed (Johnson, 2004).
However, within this group, forty-eight percent were married; ninety-three percent had child victims only; fifty-eight percent targeted girls only; fifty-seven percent attempted or completed intercourse, and eight murdered a child result (Johnson, 2004). Additionally, forty-two percent targeted attractive, undeveloped or small, guiltless and gullible kids who lacked self-assurance and self-esteem (Johnson, 2004). Mainly they would initiate the children in public places visited by children such as parks or in the child’s home and would sexually abuse them in the culprit’s place of living and/or the child’s place of living (Johnson, 2004). These sexual child predators would play, or even babysit, or use bribes, friendliness, and thoughtfulness to increase trust results (Johnson, 2004). In most cases child sexual abuse started with private part touching and caressing, or even requesting the children to take off their clothes or lay down, or talk sexually (Johnson, 2004). The offenders defined methods used to uphold the connection, and to encourage the child with the use of drugs, alcohol, or porn (Johnson, 2004).
Child sexual abuse is defined as forced or persuaded sexual activity with a minor. This includes non contact abuses, sexual molestation, and rape (American Psychological, 2012). It is estimated that approximately 135,000 children are sexually abused each year (Sedlack et al, 2010). As referenced, the most frequently associated disorder with child sexual abuse is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (McLean et al, 2014). Research has demonstrated that those who survived child sexual abuse are more vulnerable to becoming depressed and suicidal during adolescence relative to adulthood (Brown, Cohen, Johnson, & Smailes, 1999). The well-being of the survivor is critical after this traumatic experience and it is something that requires more awareness. The distress of child sexual abuse is a systemic trauma that affects the family and can come in various ways. With such high numbers of child sexual abuse families find themselves under a systematic trauma. This calls for urgent awareness as the stress and mental health challenges that both children and families face are underseen.
The Ecological Systems Theory
The theory used to analyze child sexual abuse and family distress among Latino families in the US is the ecological system theory. The ecological system theory argues that to understand a person or family one must look at the different interacting systems around the person (Brofenbrenner, 1977). The ecological system theory is composed of different systems that all interconnect and have an effect on the person. The five systems are microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. The microsystem looks at the close relationships such a parents, friends, and peers. Followed by the microsystem which is how the interactions between those relationships affect the person. The exosystem includes the forces that indirectly affect the person. The macrosystem consist of looking at culture. The outer system looks at the chronology of time. Understanding the ecological system theory can lead to a better understanding of the systemic trauma children and families find themselves in when experiencing a child sexual abuse event.
Impact of Child Sexual Abuse
Impact on child:
After effects of child sexual abuse on victims affect the chrono system as it includes short-term and long-term effects. These effects vary from between individuals from no visible effects to debilitating psychological and behavioral effects (Putman, 2003). Effects of child sexual abuse differ from static to dynamic stress levels, ultimately affecting the family system (Barker-Collo & Read 2003). Those who experienced child sexual abuse within a family member are at a higher risk of experiencing higher levels of secrecy, coercion, and distortions of relationships, which are inherent in intrafamilial abuse (O’Leary et al., 2010).
Family context creates an impact on the after effect of child sexual abuse. When families hold higher resilience families tend to have higher levels of family cohesion, adaptability, and low levels of conflict (Patterson, 2002). When looking at disclosure about the abuse the disclosure is typically delayed and only 33% of victims disclose at all during childhood (London, Bruck, Ceci, & Schuman, 2005). Following the disclosure the children are in most need of support from their caregiver, which may be difficult because of the personal impact of the disclosure. The response to the disclosure plays an important role in the outcome of the child who has experience the abuse (O’Leary et al., 2010). These responses can include belief or disbelief, affective response, an behavioral response. Examples include removing the perpetrator from the home in order to stop the perpetrator from having access to the child.
When no action is taken against the perpetrator the child is more likely to experience negative outcomes ( O’Leary et al., 2010). More positive outcomes are related when caregivers have supportive responses such as beliefs, acknowledgment, and action taken against the perpetrator. For some caregivers who hold a relationship with the perpetrator, it can be challenging for caregivers to hold the belief. Initial reactions may include shock, shame, and/or self-blame (Bolen & Lamb, 2004). For Latinx families this can be challenging keeping in mind their strong value of shame
Impact on Parents:
In analyzing the impact of child sexual abuse on the parent there are eight major categories that emerge: family context, abuse characteristics, emotional impact, cognition, support systems, impact on daily life, coping, and family dynamics (Kilroy, Egan, Maliszewska & Sarma, 2014). When experiencing the disclosure of child sexual abuse there was already family background factors that contributed to the distress of the family. These stressors ranged from marital difficulties such as violence, emotional abuse, unfaithfulness, substance abuse, marital breakdown, impending divorce, and stalking/intimidation (Kilroy et al., 2014). Otherstressors included the child taken into state care for a period of time and/or relying financially on the perpetrator. The micro system plays an important role as it helps define how families will react to the experience.
Characteristics of abuse such as context, details, and impact on child have been central factors in contributing to the parentals distress (Kilroy et al., 2014). One of the biggest distress that parents felt during the abuse disclosure was how close they were to the perpetrator(Kilroy et al., 2014). The proximity of the perpetrator to the family often lead parents to issues of initial disbelief, practical difficulty in leaving the perpetrator, ongoing contact with the perpetrators family, and frustration. Disclosure on child sexual abuse has a strong impact on the microsystem as parents and child come into conflict with the perpetrator. In learning about the details in the child’s abuse parents can often feel powerless and distress at witnessing their children worsen (Kilroy et al., 2014). These problems often came accompanied by excessive crying, self-harming, suicide attempts, anxiety, social withdrawal, school dropout, deterioration in hygiene and self-care, substance abuse, refusal to eat, significant weight change, escalating temper, nightmares, sexual acts on another child, separation from parent, and difficulty sleeping.
Parents also experienced powerlessness in not feeling capable of leaving the micro relationship and the emotional manipulation within that system (Kilroy et al., 2014). Along with emotional impact came grieving (Kilroy et al., 2014). Parents also experience a sense of shock as their initial reaction to the disclosure (Kilroy et al., 2014). Some parents also develop a feeling of sympathy for their child and the experience they have lived through (Kilroy et al., 2014). Parents felt for the experience of having their children’s childhood stolen from them and assuming that that is something that will follow them for the rest of their life. Other emotional impacts on parents were anxiety, shame/guilt, and anger (Kilroy et al., 2014). On the other hand most experienced guilt about actions they took in the microsystem. Parents are challenged within their microsystem by feeling guilty because they were the ones who brought the perpetrator into the life of the child.
A critical emotions that parents often encounter is anger towards a variety of issues and people (Kilroy et al., 2014). Parents experience anger towards those in their micro relationship such as family, friends, services, and schools. This anger is derived from the feeling that their child was not protected, they failed to detect the problem, nor did they provide the appropriate support (Kilroy et al., 2014). Literature does not discuss how parents can help process this anger.
This is critical for researchers to take in mind on what is the best way parents can learn to work with that anger. Parents also found themselves being angry with themselves as they doubted their children, not picking up on signs, nor creating an open space for their children to communicate the incident (Kilroy et al., 2014). Along with this came sadness/depression on the thought that their child had their innocence taken away and that the child had lost their confidence. In addition to that there was empathy towards their children feeling that they were not loved or that parents themselves could not completely understand what their children was attempting to communicate to them (Kilroy et al., 2014).
Cognition impacts greatly affected the parents in various ways. Parents find themselves trying to rationalize with how the abuse took place for instnce how did the peretrator presented the opportunity and how they gained thier childs trust (Kilroy et al., 2014). For many parents there is a ot of thinking that comes with the process. They may spend to much thinking about the impact of the abuse on their child and themselves in the past, present, and into the future (Kilroy et al., 2014). For fathers this can be particularly difficult to process as they may describe it as a “male reaction” feeling that he should of protected his child as a father and had a desire to “fix things” (Kilroy et al., 2014). For Latinx families, specifically males, these emotions can be difficult to process as they may feel like their manhood is put to question. Father can encounter a battle with their machismo value and the feeling of not protecting enough.
Support System
Support system in the terms of child sexual abuse consist of family, friends, school, work and governmental departments including social work, the police, courts, and the child sexual abuse unit (Kilroy et al., 2014). These systems are not always as supportive as families would want them to be. Parents experiencing child sexual abuse stressors can oftentimes encounter family members blaming, dimissing, or avoiding the issue. Other times friends have distanced themselves. Parents are not only struggling with the abuse with their children but also the lost of the relationships in their microsystem. Parents also find that government services have been perceived as unsupportive as they lack responsibility, resources, behaving non empathetically, and unprofessional (Kilroy et al., 2014). Exploring this area on why it is that support systems react this way is critical to the families experiencing this distress. More specifically this is a huge flaw in the human service field as they are intended to support and strengthen families instead of pushing them away.
The overall distress of child sexual abuse on families creates an impact on the daily life. Families find themselves being affected by the emotional impact, child symptomatology, attendance at appointments, and child care difficulties (Kilroy et al., 2014). Other impacts families experienced was relocation to different parts of the country, which include changes in schooling and moving away from the perpetrator who provided financial stability. External factors in the exosystem such as financial needs can indirectly affect the family. Parents can encounter being more cautious in general when meeting new people and can push away their partner away emotionally (Kilroy et al., 2014). For parents finding time for themselves was challenging as they find it difficult to find time for themselves due to their child’s dependency, fearfulness, or parents desire to not leave them alone (Kilroy et al., 2014). This is huge impact on the different systems of the family. From micro relationships to not being able to fully participate at work either physically or mentally.
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse brings different stressors to the family as reviewed in the literature. Understanding child sexul abuse is understanding that it is not just an abuse but also a sexual seduction as referred by Oprah Winfrey (Blake, 2019). Child sexual abuse is a grooming process as described by Winfrey (Blake, 2019). It is an abuse that takes time and dedication into grooming the child making it more challenging to identify child sexual abuse. Winfrey argues that this is a social corruption as it is happening in families, churches, schools, and sports teams everywhere (Blake, 2019). In her claim Winfrey argues that child sexual abuse is bigger than what it seems and it needs more awareness to it.
In her interview Oprah Winfrey went on to discuss the lack of accuracy in defining abuse (Yahr, 2019). Winfrey discusses that in the disclosure of child sexual abuse it is challenging for children to disclose to their parents as they do not have the language to explain what happened (Yahr, 2019). Children have been seduced and entrapped that a child understanding of abuse is not clear to them. A critical argument that Winfrey brough to the table is that the emphasis should not be on the penetration but on the aftermath (Yahr, 2019). Winfrey claimed that the picture is much bigger and that it is about the pattern of distress that is happening in our culture and that we refuse to see (Yahr, 2019)
Discussion
Systemic Trauma and Prevention
In understanding child sexual abuse it is understanding that the child who experienced abuse can be conceptualized as a systemic trauma (Kilroy et al., 2014). This concept helps to explain the impact of mental health on parents and how that impact and well-being affects how they support their children. As explained in the above literature review the impact of child sexual abuse affects all of the systems. Child sexual abuse is an experience that affects relationships and affects the lifestyle and the chronology that follows. A critical hole in research is the lack of cultural inclusivity.
Studies suggest that Latino children are more likely to experience childhood sexual abuse than those who are not Latinx (Dettlaff, Earner, & Phillips, 2009). In testing a personal safety program with Latinx preschoolers, it was revealed that there was no negative report in side effects nor did any parent express dissatisfaction with the program (Kenny, Wurtele, & Alonso, 2012). One of the strengths of this program was the availability of the program being bilingual. This is a huge advancement in the field of prevention as because most of the prevention programs are not culturally competent. As a result, preschool children were able to enhance their reporting skills. Children were able to identify body parts with proper names instead of vulgar terms.
Conclusion
In reviewing child sexual abuse it becomes evident that it is a systemic trauma. It is a event that affect the family bringing different stressors. Repeated patterns such as an affect on relationships, shame/guilt, and lack of cultural inclusivity need more awareness in the experience of child sexual abuse. A major flaw in the literature was the lack of ethical and cultural diversity. Implementing prevention programs that are not just open to different cultures but that understand and empathize diverse cultures is critical in the field. Considerations on families of low income who struggle with accessing resources is important. Other consideration include families with no legal documentations and how they can access resources while not having documentation or financial aid to assist. It is clear that the research on child sexual abuse has a long way to go.
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