Child abuse exists as intention and actions that could harm children mentally, physically, and psychologically by parents and caregivers. Various factors including children, surrounding and parents contributes to risk elements to child maltreatment. Parents and caregivers play a significant role in the growth and development of children. Moreover, ignorance and actions that lead to causing harm have short and long-term effects. As a result, the paper focuses on explaining the risk factors, consequences, and strategies for preventing child abuse. Maltreatment outcome includes physical, mental, and psychological which affects the victims in various ways including academics and social performances. Child abuse contributes to problems in cognitive functioning and the formation of antisocial behaviors. The paper focused on the prevention mechanism of child abuse, including legislation and providing support programs. Support and awareness plans assist the parents and care provider in understanding the issues and find a necessary solution. Therefore, the child abuse issues originate from different factors leading to a diverse outcome that requires effective strategies to find solutions.
Child Abuse
Child abuse persists as a significant issue in modern society, originating from the surroundings and affects the behaviors of children in different ways. Early childhood abuse occurs in various ways, including emotional, sexual, and physical and neglect by parents and guardians, which negatively affects the development and behaviors of the children. Furthermore, various risk factors of child abuse contribute to developing aggressive behaviors in the adolescent stage and adulthood. As explained by the social learning theory by Albert Bandura, individuals learn from their surroundings, which influence their behaviors. As a result, violence and abuse on children during the early childhood stage leads to diverse repercussions. Moreover, various academics have formulated multiple preventions of child abuse and reducing outcomes as the child develops. Therefore, child abuse concerns social issues in modern society influenced by different factors, leading to diverse consequences on child growth.
Risk Factors of Child Abuse
Child abuse exists as people’s actions, including parents and caregivers, or failing to act, leading to injuries, emotional and psychological harm, and various risks to the children. Various risk factors contribute to child maltreatment that influences the behaviors of the children. In some cases, the nature of the children contributes to their chances of being abused by the parents and care provider. For example, unwanted children due to factors comprising failure to fulfill in the wish of the parent’s leas to high chances of being maltreated (Lo et al., 2017). On the same note, children with special needs in the family would facilitate abuse actions by the parents of care providers. Notably, children with disabilities have high chances of being maltreated. Caregiver and parents view such children as burdens leading to physical and emotional abuse and neglect (Vlahovicova et al., 2017). Besides, neurological disorders and related intellectual disabilities lead to negative views on the child facilitating different types of abuse. Relationship in the family exists as a significant risk factor of child maltreatment (Lo et al., 2017). Families experiencing constant violence or breakdown creates a suitable atmosphere for child abuse actions. Similarly, family relationships with community and neighborhood can facilitate child abuse by peers.
Parents and caregivers act as predisposing factors to child maltreatment through various traits and behaviors. Parents encountering diverse bonding challenges with children in the early stages of development leads to neglect and abuse. Heleniak and McLaughlin (2019) asserted that parents and care providers who experienced different forms of abuse could avenge their children. Furthermore, such adults possess aggressive behaviors, which negatively affect their children. Moreover, parents addicted to alcohol and substance abuse have higher chances of engaging in child maltreatment activities. According to Lo et al. (2017), family members abusing drugs neglect their children and have aggressive behaviors. Equally, parents and care providers could possess unrealistic expectations from children in early childhood development, which leads to maltreatment as the child fails to meet the parent’s anticipated outcomes (Lo et al., 2017). Equally, parents with disorders such as mental and problems in impulse control make the parents and caretaker exit as a risk factor for child abuse. Nevertheless, financial difficulties lead to frustrations, depression, and anxiety, contributing to parents maltreating their children.
A consequence of Child Abuse
Child maltreatment has various consequences on the development of the children, whether physical, neglect, emotional and sexual. Child abuse leads to short and long-term impacts on the children negatively affects the growth, including aggressive and antisocial behaviors (Vlahovicova et al., 2017). For example, child maltreatment in early childhood development could result in various psychological challenges (Heleniak & McLaughlin, 2019). The consequences manifest through diverse aspects, including depression, low self-esteem, antisocial behaviors, and low performance in education when they start attending school. Child abuse leads to problems in cognitive skills development and limited executive functioning. As per Heleniak and McLaughlin (2019), the challenges experienced by the children possess adverse effects on the brain’s development of the child which affect self-control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. On the same note, child abuse facilitates mental issues, including challenges in paying attention and learning, which affect their educational performance (Lippard & Nemeroff, 2020). Besides, different forms of child abuse lead to poor emotional and mental health due to stress and depression. Maltreatment contributes to the development of psychiatric disorders, which destabilizes the emotional and mental health of the children during development.
According to social learning theory, the environment significantly influences the formation of behaviors. Children would form behaviors based on their childhood experiences. Infants who encountered child abuse have high chances of developing aggressive traits and difficulties in social attachment. As per Lippard and Nemeroff (2020), children growing in abusive families experience limited care and affection from surrounding in which they continue with identical patterns. Such children develop antisocial behaviors leading to the inability to establish positive peer interactions in the home and school environments. Equally, maltreatment among children has physical health outcomes which affect the children in multiple ways (Heleniak & McLaughlin, 2019). Different forms of abuse possess significant physical health consequences which can occur immediately or later in adolescence and adulthood. Child abuse results in migraine headaches, back problems, brain damage, and cardiovascular disorders, to name a few. Equally, child maltreatment facilitates post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has diverse results on the child’s development. PTSD contributes to isolation, irritability, anger, and shame. Besides, the conditions make the children attempt suicidal behaviors, get depressed, and engage in substance abuse.
Prevention of Child Abuse
Preventing child maltreatment requires efforts from every aspect of society with diverse strategies. Earlier interventions significantly contribute to assisting the abused children to quick recovery and reduce the subsequent effects of maltreatment. According to Merrick and Guinn (2018), the interventions concentrate on improving the social and behavioral skills, cognitive growth and development, educational performance of the maltreated children. Moreover, various pangrams aim at preventing child abuse and neglect in the community. For instance, educating, creating awareness, and supporting caregivers and parents on the issues of child abuse lowers the chances of child abuse (Merrick & Guinn, 2018). Furthermore, government and relevant authorities should implement various legislations and outline necessary actions that prohibit child maltreatment (Merrick & Guinn, 2018). The laws should include the consequences of the culprits found guilty of child exploitation and abuse.
To conclude, child abuse exists as a significant social issue affecting the current society, which requires efforts from every sector to ensure the safety of the children. Various factors such as the nature of the child, caregiver, and parents exit as risk elements contributing to child abuse. Furthermore, environmental factors, including family relationships and neighborhood, lead to child maltreatment. Notably, child abuse possesses various psychological, behavioral, physical, and mental outcomes that affect the children in different ways. Besides, the abuse during early childhood influences the behaviors of the children, leading to antisocial behaviors, which affect their social and educational performances. As a result, various programs and support should implement awareness among the care providers and parents on child abuse. Equally, the regulations should focus on punishing those found guilty of child abuse.
