Effects of child physical abuse

Effects of child physical abuse

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Child physical abuse damages children both physically and emotionally. The longer physical abuse of a child continues, the more serious the consequences. The initial effects of physical abuse are painful and emotionally traumatic for the child. The long-term consequences of physical abuse impact on the child in their adult life, on their family and on the community.

In the most extreme cases, physical abuse results in the death of the child.

Studies of physically abused children and their families indicate that a significant number of physical and psychological problems are associated with child physical abuse. Abused children compared with non-abused children may have more difficulty with academic performance, self-control, self-image and social relationships.

A recent US study comparing physically abused and non-abused children provided considerable evidence of the negative and lasting consequences of physical abuse. The physically abused children in the study experienced far greater problems at home, at school, amongst peers and in the community.12

Initial Effects of Child Physical Abuse

Immediate pain, suffering and medical problems in some cases death caused by physical injury.
Emotional problems such as anger, hostility, fear, anxiety, humiliation, lowered self-esteem and inability to express feelings.
Behavioural problems such as aggression by the child towards others or self-destructive behaviour, hyperactivity, truancy, inability to form friendships with peers and poor social skills. Poorer cognitive and language skills than non-abused children.
Long Term Consequences Of Child Physical Abuse

Long term physical disabilities, for example, brain damage or eye damage.
Disordered interpersonal relationships, for example, difficulty trusting others within adult relationships or violent relationships.
A predisposition to emotional disturbance.
Feelings of low self esteem.
Depression.
An increased potential for child abuse as a parent.
Drug or alcohol abuse.
The Social Cost Of Child Physical Abuse

The social and economic costs to our community of child physical abuse, whilst not always immediately obvious, are enormous. They include the financial costs of social welfare payments and services as well as the social cost to our community of problems such as mental illness, homelessness, crime and unemployment, which may occur in the adolescent or adult lives of physically abused children.

Failure to appreciate the costs may be an important reason why society lacks the will to aggressively deal with the problem.13

Early identification and effective intervention can ameliorate some initial effects and long term effects of child physical abuse and promote the recovery of victims.

Labels: Effects of child physical abuse

posted by Robert Heard at 11:42 AM