Child Maltreatment

Kelsay Richards
PSY1100
October 8, 2016
While reading these articles, I was surprised to see that child
maltreatment can actually increase the risk of health problems not just
immediately, but long-term as well, such as sexually transmitted diseases,
diabetes, and cancer. These long-term health problems seem to root from
physical abuse and neglect, but of course, there are possible outcomes
depending on several factors, including: The childs age and developmental
status when the abuse or neglect occurred, the type of maltreatment
(physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, etc.), the frequency, duration and
severity of the maltreatment, and the relationship between the child and
perpetrator (Child Welfare Information Gateway; page 3). When a child is
abused physically, there may be some obvious indications such as bruising
and cuts that couldnt have been sustained by the child crashing his/her
bike. However, some not-so-obvious results of physical abuse may include
head trauma, if an infant has been shaken, for example. According to The
Child Welfare Information Gateway: One in every four victims of shaken
baby syndrome dies, and nearly all victims experience serious health
consequences (CDC, n.d.). Abuse and neglect has also been shown to
negatively affect important parts of the brain, causing it to fail to form
properly leading to impaired brain development, affecting the childs
cognitive, language, and academic abilities. Children becoming adults who
experienced abuse and neglect while growing up are at a higher risk of long-

term health problems, including those I mentioned earlier as well as

cardiovascular disease, lung and liver disease, hypertension, asthma, and
obesity (Felittit & Anda, 2009).
Aside from the physical consequences of child maltreatment, there is
also the emotional and mental anguish the child almost immediately
experiences following abuse. Among other psychological difficulties the child
may experience as they mature, social difficulties are more likely to arise
causing anti-social traits, lack of trust, and aggression. Another statistic I
found to be interesting was the likelihood of adults who were abused as
children to commit violence to the youth. Data from the Longitudinal Study
of Adolescent Health showed that girls who experienced childhood physical
abuse were 1-7 percent more likely to become perpetrators of youth violence
and 8-10 percent more likely to be perpetrators of interpersonal violence
(IPV). Boys who experienced childhood sexual violence were 3-12 percent
more likely to commit youth violence and 1-17 percent more likely to commit
IPV (Xingming & Corso, 2007) (Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013),
page 6). Research has also shown an increased likelihood of drug and alcohol
abuse, cigarette smoking, illicit drug use and even intravenous drugs among
abused and neglected children. There have also been several links to
juvenile and adult criminal activity to those abused as children.
The lifetime cost of child maltreatment and related fatalities in 1 year
totals $124 billion, according to a study funded by the CDC. (Child Welfare
Information Gateway. (2013) page 6). Understandably, this creates quite a

direct financial impact on society as it is very costly. However, programs such

as the Triple P Program, to prevent child maltreatment has decreased the
number of emergency room visits, arrests on mothers, and the number of
confirmed child abuse cases; this program has proven effectiveness with a
benefit/cost ratio of $47 to every $1 spent on the program. Child abuse also
effects the society indirectly as well by increasing the use of our health care
system, juvenile and adult jails, and illicit drug use within our community.
Now that I understand more about what child abuse can do to a child
and the society he or she lives in, why is it that this abuse happens in the
first place and who is to blame for these atrocious crimes? According to the
CDCs Facts at a Glance in 2014, over 80% of the perpetrators were
parents and of those 80%, 54% were men and 45% were women, an almost
equal sharing of blame for each gender. They also stated 3 factors that can
increase the risk of abuse and neglect in a child: Age (under 4 years of age is
when children are at the greatest risk), family environment (a large amount
of stress; this stress may arise from family histories of violence, drugs or
alcohol abuse as well as poverty and chronic health problems), and
community (poverty, on-going community violence, and weak connections
between neighbors and relatives put children at a higher risk)
(Understanding Child Maltreatment Fact Sheet, CDC, 2014). So,
unfortunately, families that need the most help are the ones who are at the
highest risk of abuse and neglect.

When I hear or suspect abuse, I believe my personal responsibility

would be to report it to the police. Although its none of my business, I fully
believe the better safe than sorry saying. I was absolutely devastated after
reading the article about the 10-year-old girl in New Mexico who was sexually
assaulted, drugged, and dismembered before her body was wrapped up and
lit on fire in an apartment by her mother, father and aunt; I would be
ashamed of myself if I was a neighbor of theirs, heard suspicious activity and
didnt say anything to authorities. Personally, I am not yet a parent and we
do not come from drugs, poverty, or violent backgrounds; however, stress
can happen to anyone. By controlling the amount of stress in our household,
we can keep our family environment optimal and create the best living
environment for our children. We will keep close ties with our relatives and
neighbors so if any help is needed, we can always reach out!

Citations:
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). Long-term consequences of child
abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Childrens Bureau.
Understanding Child Maltreatment: Fact Sheet. (2014)
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention
Child Maltreatment: Facts at a Glance. (2014)