Cause and Effects of Child Abuse

Kelly Gearhart

Dr. Catherine Stephens

ENC 1101

23 March 2016

Cause and Effects of Child Abuse

        There is an unspoken and hidden war going on around the word, and that war is child abuse. “A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds” according to (Childhelp.org). Child abuse is any harm whether it is physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect to the child’s welfare by the person responsible for the child. Most people don’t understand how serious child abuse can be, and how it could affect any child receiving it in the long run. There are many different causes and effects of child abuse. A child being abused by someone who is abusing substances can affect a child by physically harming them and psychologically ruining them for a big part of their life. So many children experience child abuse every day of their lives, and it’s time to put an end to it for good.

        One cause that leads to children being abused is the abuse substances by the parent. This can include anything from drugs, to prescription pills to alcohol. “Substance abuse has been identified as a key factor in a growing number of cases” (The Columbia University Press). The reason substance abuse is such a big cause of child abuse is because the parents are under the influence and they aren’t in control of the choices they are making. When some people drink they get angry and a child could make a simple mistake and the parent could easily snap on them beyond control. According to Nccafv.org substance abuse exists in 40 to 80 percent of families in which children are victims of abuse. Also, children whose parents’ abuse alcohol or other drugs are three times more likely to be abused. Parents who abuse prescription pills or other harmful drugs can cause mood swings and other symptoms that can harm a child. Above all, abusing any kind of substance can take affect and harm an innocent child.

        Parents abusing substances can affect a child by physically harming them. One of the most common cases of child abuse is physical harm. Physical abuse can range from bruises, cuts, burns, fractures or broken bones, other health problems or concerns, etc (NSCCP). Bruises can be caused by hitting the child with an object, grabbing their body with too much force, or even pushing them into an object that could bruise them. Bruises, burns and cuts can be found on any part of the body. Fractures or broken bones are more serious physical harm but they are just as common. Other uncommon symptoms of physical abuse would be vomiting, drowsiness or seizing which could be a result from poisoning. Parents who abuse their children feel a sense of power over them, especially being under the influence could only make matters worse for the child. Another thing that can trigger an abuser to harm a child would be they were abused when they were a child so it would feel like that’s the right thing to do. It should never be okay to lay a hand on a child.

        Aside from substance abusers harming their children physically, they will also be affected psychologically. It’s bad enough they will be affected from bruises and broken bones, but they will also hurt on the inside too. “Inappropriate punishment, verbal abuse, and scapegoating are also forms of emotional and psychological abuse” (The Columbia University Press). Those are just a few examples of how they can be harmed emotionally.  Some symptoms of psychological harm would be depression, sleep deprived, fearful, aggressive, etc. Children who don’t get the help they need when they are young can risk having problems in the future with depression and anxiety. Being yelled at, called names, or saying things like they aren’t good enough can lower a child’s self esteem. Children at a young age are so affected by words that suicide becomes an option for some. Not only will they be attacked on the outside by objects or hands, but also with mean words going over and over in their heads.