Types of child abuse and their outcomes research paper sample

1. Introduction
Child abuse in United States has become a major concern as the rates escalate by day. Statistic have shown that there more deaths in children by abusing them than accidentally.

Thesis statement

United States should put a stop to Physical child abuse, verbal abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and being neglecting towards this situation. These children can have negative effects and repercussions for their future.
II. Body

A. First supporting argument

a. Effects and the impact on child abuse.
b. Child abuse statistics
c. Physical health

B. Second supporting argument

Types of abuse
a. Psychological abuse
b. Verbal abuse
c. Sexual abuse
C. Outcome of child abuse
a. Depression
b. Behavioral manners
c. Anxiety and psychological problems
III. Conclusion
a. Different effects of child abuse.
b. An effort from the government to put a stop and prevent child abuse.
Child Abuse
There is a detrimental need for the United States Government to put more emphasis and focus on the increasingly rising rate of child abuse. Some form of child abuse has been around since the beginning of times, although child abuse wasn’t as prominent as it has become in the nineteenth century, child abuse of some type has been known to the government. The first state in the United States that established child abuse as a crime was New York in 1875, this was called Child Protection Laws, and after this implementation of laws other states followed pursuit with related laws.
In 1974 the U. S. the escalating rate of child abuse prompted the Congress to pass the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. This was meant to encourage remaining states pass laws that would ensure children are protected. The passing of the act also lead to the creation of a center dubbed National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Each state differs in their reporting laws such as, juvenile and family court laws, and criminal laws. Being as though child abuse impacts a child dramatically; emotionally, physically, psychologically, and verbally it is essential that child abuse be a serious criminal offense, the government should continue to enforce this law to the fullest extent of the law. Child abuse has a lifelong effect on a child one incident can lead to serious psychological issues that could take years possibly a lifetime of therapy and treatment.
As of January 2013, reports indicate an average of over 3. 6 million child abuse reports have been recorded on a yearly basis out of which about 3. 6 million of the 6 million are children who are involved in reports of child abuse. (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, 2013). In 2010, the government of United States released a report showing that the number of children who died either because of neglect and abuse was 1, 537. “ Of the number of children who died due to abuse or neglect 79. 4% were younger than 4 years old, 47. 7% were younger than 1 years old.” (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, 2010).
Currently, child abuse takes place in various forms which are difficult to notice. This is also done by very close relatives and family members and hence making it difficult for the cases to be reported. It is rather unfortunate that most of the child abusers are family members; this hence calls for the government to protect children from such abusive families. This can only be facilitated by various stakeholders include school administration. The earlier the abuse is detected, the better and easier the child will be helped.

Types of Abuse

No child abuse is less or more severe than the other all types of child abuse has long term effects on a child’s life that carries on to their adulthood, and eventually into their relationships/marriages. Reasonably so, therapist, counselors, department of human resources, law enforcement and the judicial system has to treat child abuse seriously and ensure the safety and well-being of each and every child. For example, a child abuse case that is reported to any law enforcement has to be carefully investigated in that the child is removed completely from the environment to prevent further abuse. There is a need for the environment of the child to be changed after he or she has gone through abuse. This should be done until when they have attained the age of eighteen or are deemed mature enough to handle issues that arise. This applies to children who have either gone through verbal, sexual, psychological or even physical abuse. .
Psychological abuse could consist of parents/guardians using life-threatening and/or peculiar forms of reprimand, such as confinement, detaining a child in a closet, dark room, tying a child on a chair for a long period of time, intimidating or frightening a child. Some other forms of psychological abuse are demeaning or refusing treatment, using offensive terms to define the child, accusing or condemning. (Indianchild. com. 2000 – 2004).
Criticizing a child and condemning them without prior evidence are forms of verbal child abuse, although these are not the only forms of verbal child abuse belittling is considered another form of child abuse. Verbal abuse could possibly lead to a child that develops into an adult having issues with authority figures which is one of the many issues verbal abuse could possibly lead to with a child. The fact that verbal abuse leaves a child feeling mediocre or useless at an early age leaves a child with hostile feelings towards other children, as well as the child feeling unwanted. (Booker, R., 2003-2013).
Sexual Abuse includes but not limited to touching a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, rape, sexual exploitation, incest, intercourse, sodomy and exhibitionism. For an incidence to be identified as child abuse, these acts have to be committed by a responsible person accountable for the care of a child (for example: a parent, a guardian, a caretaker, or a kinship to the child). If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts. (Indianchild. com. 2000 – 2004).
Physical abuse involves beating up children as a corrective measure or punishing them for their mistakes. The magnitude of the punishment usually depends on the kind of mistake the children have done. The spanking may however turn out to be abusive especially when parents resort to it as the best means through which they can correct them. This is a painful experience to children who may end up nursing wounds caused from the spanking. Sometimes, parents fail to recognize the reason behind a child’s behavior and therefore resorting to spanking them mercilessly. This is no longer considered as a corrective mechanism but viewed by children as a means through which their parents are hating on them.

Outcome of child abuse

Researchers have found in numerous studies over many years in nearly each case of adult depression, there was some type of abuse experienced as a child whether it was verbal, sexual or psychological. To combat adult depression a therapist must research extensively into the adult’s childhood in order to be effective with the adult’s treatment, if not the adult will forever suffer endless pain of suffering with depression. It isn’t prudent to uncover or recap every horrific aspect of past experience or experience’s in the adult’s childhood for the recovery process.
(McGrath, E., 2003).
It has been estimated that nearly eighty percent of children who have been abused are at the highest risk of succumbing to different severe psychological problems that are referred to as mental illnesses. There are several factors that come into play regarding the extent of the psychological problems that may present in a child that has been abuse such as; how long was the child abuse, what type abuse did the child endure, how old was the child and so forth.(Jirage, R., 2011).
Ordinarily in younger children one of the more common psychological problems in a child that has suffered physical abuse is disruptive disorder. Most children are unable to express themselves positively so reversal they will exhibit behaviors of aggression, violence and delinquency. Other psychological problems that may present are academic difficulties, difficulty concentrating, depending on the age of the child reports has shown alcohol and drug abuse as well as the child will begin to wet the bed if they haven’t previously.(Jirage, R., 2011). Some of the more common mental illnesses are; depression disorder, anxiety disorder, problems sleeping also known as insomnia, changes in their eating could be more or less, their demeanor will noticeably change also isolation begins setting in at some point.
Depending on who abused the child, children are likely to develop promiscuous behavior as they feel worthless about themselves. For instance, children who have gone through sexual abuse feel the need and the urge to engage in sex. The feeling of worthlessness also makes them engage in irresponsible sexual behavior just to feel accepted in the society. Some may also develop a negative attitude towards sex and hence negatively affecting their future relationships. A child who was introduced to sex as an abusive exercise is likely to view it as abusive and hence not giving in to it easily. They are likely to view any form sexual intercourse as an abusive exercise. This may happen due to the memories that come through their mind whenever they think about sex.
Adults who abuse children make it had for the victimized children to trust adults. They look at them as people who do not understand and simply want to mistreat them. Children from abusive backgrounds also tend to develop such an abusive attitude and hence showing the same to the people they meet. When a child has been abused by his or her parents, they tend to think take the treatment as normal. They may not understand how negative it is despite the pain it causes them. This hence implies that when they will have families, they are likely to abuse them. Abused children also tend to isolate themselves especially when they notice that other children are living better lives than them. They feel out of place in the society and therefore not playing as other normal children.
Physical abuse to children makes them irresponsible. They may never take any form of correction as they are used to the beatings. They will also tend to beat their fellow children as a means of exercising what they are used to. Physical abuse has made some children disabled especially if they were hit by sharp or blunt objects. The disabilities make most children have poor memories about their past and more especially when they are asked. Child who feels disadvantaged will find it hard to move on with life. Such children become so much attached to their past and hence feeling stigmatized in the society.

Conclusion

Various states all across the US have implemented different organizations to put a stop and prevent child abuse. One of the largest organizations that were established in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois was Prevent Child Abuse America, this organization has a network of chapters established in all fifty states and over five hundred Healthy Families America home visitation sites in forty one states that also covers Puerto Rico and Canada. This organization’s mission is ensure the safe growth of children across the US.(http://www. preventchildabuse. org/index. php).
A nonprofit organization that was established in 2004 by Pamela Pine was Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse. Stop the Silence began with a vision in 2004 to “ expose and stop child sexual abuse” (http://www. stopcsa. org/about/about/mission. html) and help those who have survived sexual abuse heal nationwide.
The government has gradually improved in its assistance towards the prevention and stopping child abuse over the years by disbursing more and more funds each year to non-profit national organizations, another effort advanced by the government was the availability of grants to private and public entities, which is other known as, 93. 669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants. (http://www. federalgrantswire. com/child-abuse-and-neglect-state-grants. html)

References

Booker, R., 2003-2013. What is Verbal Child Abuse? Article retrieved from Wise Geek Articles. http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-verbal-child-abuse. htm
https://www. childwelfare. gov/preventing/developing/funding. cfm
http://www. federalgrantswire. com/child-abuse-and-neglect-state-grants. html
http://www. preventchildabuse. org/index. php
Indianchild. com. 2000 – 2004. Parenting Articles, parenting advice, resources – Indian Parenting safe surfing guide.
Jirage, R., 2011. The Psychological Effects of Child Abuse, article retrieved from Buzzle. http://www. buzzle. com/articles/the-psychological-effects-of-child-abuse. html
McGrath, E., 2003. Psychology Today: Child Abuse and Depression.
http://www. livestrong. com/article/178291-how-abuse-causes-depression/#ixzz2RuGS3TD9
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. (2013).  http://www. childwelfare. gov/systemwide/statistics/can. cfm
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families: 2010 Child Maltreatment Report. http://www. childwelfare. gov/systemwide/statistics/can. cfm
” Journal of Psychiatric Research” Clinical Depression Emotional Physical Abuse; Miniati; Apr 2010