In this paper, the researcher will address the adjustment issues often seen in individuals who were abused early in their childhood. Abuse can be traumatic for any individual but it is especially troubling when endured at one of the most vulnerable developmental stages of the person’s life. Although intervention has been known to help dramatically, children can be easily manipulated into keeping the abuse a secret. For this reason, an emphasis is placed on the importance of professionals constantly interacting with children, being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse, so that any suspicions can be immediately reported. But what happens to those individuals who never got the intervention they required, or even when they do, how to they transition into adulthood? The purpose of this research paper is to assess some of the literature on the topic, to investigate the challenges faced by people who are abused, sexually, emotionally and verbally, in relation to later socialization, self-concepts and mental health in Saint Lucia. Risk Assessment of Child Abuse in Saint Lucia According to a report developed by Matheson & Hornick (2007), there exists limited quantitative data regarding the extent of child abuse in Saint Lucia. As stated by the reporters, the data that is available, however, shows that child abuse is a significant problem in the country. During the year 2002, there were approximately 40 reported cases of child sexual and 60 cases of physical abuse. In 2005, the number increased to 79 cases of child abuse and 64 cases of physical abuse (Hornick & Matheson, 2007). Considering that Saint Lucia has a population of approximately 647, 000, these numbers are definitely cause for concern. Further data from existin... ... middle of paper ... ...06, September 23). Self Esteem Damages in Abuse Children. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://krillco.hubpages.com/hub/Self-Esteem-Damages-in-Abused-Children Rogers, V. (2010, July 12). Abuse/Survivors of Abuse. Retrieved from Good Therapy: http://www.goodtherapy.org/therapy-for-abuse.html Roy, L. H. (2012, March 30). Reactive Attachment Disorder. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/915447-overview Stirling, J. J.-A. (2008, September 3). America Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/3/667.full Wagner, M. (2004, May 19). The Long Term Effects of child Abuse. Retrieved July 15, 2012, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20455125 Williams, F., & Eugene, C. (2004). United Nations secretary-general's stufy on violence against children. Castries: Collins Works Press.
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Historically, reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is considered to be a rare disorder (American Academy of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), 2011). Clinical disorders of attachment did not appear in the DSM until the third edition, published in 1980 (Zeanah et al., 2004). In the fourth edition of the DSM (text revision), reactive attachment disorder was described from two different perspectives: inhibited form and disinhibited form. It was suggested that the different forms of...
Child abuse, while having many different forms and levels of severity, can be basically defined as the maltreatment of a child by a parent or other adult. When one thinks of child abuse, usually the first thing that comes to mind is physical harm, but the issue is actually much more complex. The abuse of a child can also be manifested in verbal and emotional forms, as well as in sexual molestation. All forms of child abuse generally result in similar emotional disorders and behavioral issues, but the major consequences of sexual abuse, such as mental or emotional scarring, promiscuity, and the tendency of former victims to become sexual abusers, cause it to be the most severely damaging form of child abuse.
Attachment is described as the close emotional bond between two people and Attachment Theory (AT) generally concentrates on the early bonds in a person’s development as well as the effects that these bonds have on later socio-emotional development. While emphasis on attachment as an antecedent for future behavior and personality has decreased somewhat in recent years, it is interesting to note that the DSM IV-TR includes a “reactive attachment disorder” which it states is caused when extreme circumstances prevent proper attachment development.
...y Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Early Childhood, 2000. 15 May 2011. Web.
Child abuse is an issue in every state, every country, worldwide. There is no place that is immune to child abuse. This being stated they need better policies in place regarding the education on child abuse. Many people have many different opinions on how to lessen the amount of child abuse that goes on in this country, however many of them focus on stricter punishment for the abuser’s (Hmurovich, 2009). However, they know that stricter punishment will not lessen the amount of child abuse; it would truly have little to no impact on...
Child abuse is a serious issue in today's society. Many people have been victims of child abuse. There are three forms of child abuse: physical, emotional, and sexual. Many researchers believe that sexual abuse is the most detremental of the three. A middle-aged adult who is feeling depressed will probably not relate it back to his childhood, but maybe he should. The short-term effects of childhood sexual abuse have been proven valid, but now the question is, do the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse affect middle-aged adults? Many contradicting views arise from the subject of childhood sexual abuse. Researchers and psychologists argue on this issue. Childhood sexual abuse has the potential to damage a child physically, emotionally, and behaviorally for the rest of his or her childhood, and the effects have been connected to lasting into middle-aged adulthood.
The psychological effects that are created through abuse often create physical side effects as well. These psychological effects, such as anxiety and depression, could cause reoccurring headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia, and many other physical effects due to growing up with a heightened stress response. Even after the abuse ends, adult survivors of childhood abuse are at a higher risk for many long-term problems including “…chronic pain and fibromyalgia, gynecological problems, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, headaches, cardiovascular disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome”. Physical abuse usually causes more noticeable side effects than mental or emotional abuse, and they can also sometimes cause life-long problems. The longer the abuse occurs, the worse the repercussions will be. Long-term abuse can result in physical disabilities, brain damage, and even death. The amount of negative physical effects that come from childhood abuse show that the idea of positive physical effects coming from the situation as well is
Child abuse in general is quite complex and at the same time one of the most challenging social issue facing people all around the USA. Child abuse cases have been recorded in all the states of the USA. The cases occur in all areas be it cities, small towns, suburbs, and even in rural areas. The vice also happens in all types of families regardless of the ethnic origin of the family or the even family income (UNICEF, 2015). It is thus important that effort is put into reducing cases of child abuse.
Debatably, child maltreatment can be viewed as a human rights violation that is caused by various factors involving the individua...
When a child has been physically abused, there are noticeable bruises, or other effects on the person. On the other hand, most people do not recognize or even know the effects of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can deeply wound a child, and as the child grows, the scars will remain; the scars that people do not see that can cause a lifetime of suffering. These invisible scars can affect a person’s development as they struggle to accept themselves from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. Emotional abuse negatively impacts an individual’s self-esteem, which can in turn, cause depression and substance abuse later in adulthood.
The effects of child abuse are multiple. The pain and trauma the abused child goes through is just a small part of how this cauldron of hidden depravity in our society affects all of us. Wrecked lives can be seen in persons of all ages and in all walks of life. Society as a whole is also effected by child abuse both in negative and positive ways. In this essay I will present some of the factor and results of this violent behavior on individuals as well as our culture.
One of the most obvious and damaging results of child abuse is death; however, research illustrating the effects on a growing child who has been abused has demonstrated many other lifelong negative factors (Felitti, Anda, Nordenberg, Williamson, Spitz, Edwards, Koss, Marks, 1998). In consonance children who suffer from abuse can show signs of depression, social withdraw, and even violent behavior. As a child grows older, they may suffer from poor physical health, such as high blood pressure, obesity, stress, and psychological disorders and disabilities (Herronkohl, T., Hong, Klika, and Herronkohl, R., 2013). Child abuse and neglect have also been associated with depression, anger disorders, and post-traumatic