Child Abuse and Its Long Term Consequences

Child Abuse and Its Long Term Consequences

Child abuse causes devastating psychological and even aftermaths to a child, of which most continue haunting them even in their adulthood. These long term consequences act as barriers to these children living normal lives and feeling different from the society they engage in due to the secret they carry in their bodies that torture their innocent minds. This paper provides a recent reference list of journals that have explicitly discussed this matter, their study purpose, sample methods about the research, findings, as well as the strength and weakness of each source.

Reference List

1. Reitsema, A., & Grietens, H. (2016). Is Anybody Listening? The Literature on the Dialogical Process of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Reviewed. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 17(3), 330-340. doi:10.2307/26638129

The purpose of this study conducted by Reitsema and Grietens is to provide an analysis of child sexual abuse with the aim of creating new future directions for clinical practice and research. The method used for this research was through a meta-analysis of 217 published studies on disclosure of child sexual abuse. The results for this report were 7.6% male children, and 18% of the female children cases were reported for rape cases below 18 years. The report, however, asserts that with the under-recorded and under-reported cases of sexual victimization, the data provided is only a margin of the full representation. The strength of this research is that the information obtained from the 217 studies will surely fulfill the objective of this paper, which is to provide full disclosure of this ill-act. The weakness of this study is that it is a cumulative analysis of other’s people research; the errors made by all these researches may befall this analytical report, therefore for accuracy, an explicit research of the 217 resources’ weaknesses is essential.

The information is however reliable since it provides citations and referencing. These articles highlight the aftermaths that these children have are such as PTSD, drug abuse, and low self-esteem. Lastly, the review provides different solutions to the child abuse problem such as school-based programs, community education, guardian, caregivers or parents training on child-parent relationships as an important trait in developing trust and ease of communication with these children.

2. Edwards, F. (2019). Family Surveillance: Police and the Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 5(1), 50-70. doi:10.7758/rsf.2019.5.1.03

Edwards conducted a survey in the United States child welfare system to find out the magnitude of child abuse cases they receive and what measures they carry out in rescue of these children. The child welfare system recorded 37% of children in the US experienced a mal-treatment investigation in their childhood, and 12% will be confirmed cases of child abuse before the age of 18. A larger population of maltreatment cases are found within the African American families. A survey Edwards did of 2015, 4 million children were reported to welfare agencies with 3 million cases being confirmed positive.

The strength of this article is that it gets its information from the policemen and child welfare agencies on these reports thus, the accuracy of information. The weakness of this article is that it does not provide solutions but only criticizes it. The information is highly reliable and objective and useful for this study. Edward reports that most of these children brought in for questioning are usually traumatized, wounded fearful, poor communicators, and very bitter. This information is first hand from children who have been identified within a range of one month to one year, thus revealing the true devastating physical, psychological, and emotional brokenness of these children.

3. Tillman, K., Prazak, M., Burrier, L., Miller, S., Benezra, M., & Lynch, L. (2015). FACTORS INFLUENCING SCHOOL COUNSELORS’ SUSPECTING AND REPORTING OF CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL ABUSE: INVESTIGATING CHILD, PARENT, SCHOOL, AND ABUSE CHARACTERISTICS. Professional School Counseling, 19(1), 103-115. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/90014793

This journal focuses on research in schools through information given by school counselors who give a report of the domestic cases they receive or suspect and the effects they observe in children who fall victim to child abuse. This analysis was done by indulging 398 elementary school counselors who were asked to complete a survey questionnaire concerning their view about suspecting and reporting physical abuse by children. The survey entailed: the race of the child, socioeconomic status of the family, abuse severity, and the relationship between the child and school counselor. Through the survey, it was perceived that most defensive parents were less likely suspected of abuse more than cooperative and non-involved parents, child abuse is also less suspected without any physical evidence, parental stress and mental health are child abuse predictors. Also, school counselors less suspected African Americans. Hispanic, Caucasian parents than any other. The strength of this survey is the specific focus on school counselors; competent school counselors are able to give you investigative reports on child abuse since they are the guardians of these children, and they also get to know the whole paradigm before and after children are abused. The weakness of this study is that the authors assert, with manipulation, children are able to keep secret their abuse due to their innocence and naivety of mind. This article is useful to the study, very objective, and relevant. This article adds that children are able to be manipulated into ignoring their emotional, physical, psychological state by being lured and being distracted.

4. Herring, J. (2018). THE SEVERITY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. National Law School of India Review, 30(1), 37-50. Retrieved April 7, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/26743931

The purpose of this journal is to look at the severity of domestic abuse, including child abuse, globally and also the part the aspect of severity has to play in the consequences of child abuse. Herring’s method of research is a survey whereby he reviews statistics made by the World Health Organization, which asserted that 1/3 of women in a relationship had experienced domestic violence, with 38 percent of murder committed by their male partners. This goes hand in hand with a survey WHO does in its global affiliates asserting that 20% of children face child abuse from their fathers, with 15% of children dying of child abuse from the father. WHO has set up rescue centers for women and their children against abuse in a few countries in Africa whereby they report women and children arrive there in bruises, broken body parts, traumatized, short of breath which takes time to heal, after therapy and other help they get from the center. The most affected are children, who end up having false imagery of a father figure, PTSD through nightmares, inferiority complex and bitterness of heart about men and fatherhood, thus ending up gay (girl child) and masturbation. The strength of the study is the validity of the survey, whereby sources like WHO are genuine, and hence reports given by them are legitimate. The weakness of the article was hard to identify due to the objectivity of the research and the numerous sources of information. The article is uniquely useful to the study, very objective, and reliable. This study reveals that domestic child abuse may cause a child to not only succumb to the usual effects: PTSD, drug abuse, inferiority complex, but also homosexuality due to a hatred for men, thus the normal sexual pleasure or attraction is no longer present in the child, instead of seeking sexual gratification in self, masturbation, and in the same gender, lesbianism.

5. Mathews, B., & Collin-Vezine, D. (2016). Child sexual abuse: Raising awareness and empathy is essential to promote new public health responses. Journal of Public Health Policy, 37(3), 304-314. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/43948862

Mathew and Collin, in this journal, focus on raising awareness to the occurrence of child sexual abuse so as health sectors in countries may develop health strategies on how to handle this matter; these assert that most child abuse cases are identified by law enforcement after an individual engagement with the victims, children, since they are not likely to report due to shame and fear. The statistical analysis provides a global analysis of child abuse by the United Nations: 12.7% of children globally experience child sexual abuse, 8.5 % being girls, and 4.0%. The girl child is, therefore, more prone to child abuse than the boy child. The strength of this research is that it provides strategies to promote unity in communities; the most excellent stratagem being the approach this matter from the family unit since if the family unit is sensitized, the whole community will. The weakness of the study is the lack of focus; in that, there is no specific community or country the two authors focus on and reports on. The information is reliable and objective due to the citations and presence of a referencing page. Many articles discuss how to deal with the matter, but this paper focus on prevention mostly and sensitization; saving these children from these traumatizing is vital; therefore, all measures and instructions given for preventing child abuse should be taken with serious intent.

6. Meinck, F., Cluver, L., Boyes, M., & Loening-Voysey, H. (2016). Physical, emotional, and sexual adolescent abuse victimization in South Africa: Prevalence, incidence, perpetrators, and locations. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (1979-), 70(9), 910-916. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/44018503

The purpose of this journal is to expose the prevalence and unattended abuse of children and precisely adolescence both physically and emotionally in South Africa. The methodology of research used is interviewing and a qualitative analysis, whereby a random census was done, tallying up to 3,515 children between ages 10 and 17 years. Questionnaires were also used, whereby these children filled at the moment of research and a year later after follow up. The prevalence within the range of the age group given was 9 % for sexual abuse, 56.3 % for physical abuse, and 35.5 % for emotional abuse. The main perpetrators for these abuses were: teachers and parents or caregivers for physical abuse, relatives and prime caregivers for emotional abuse, and lastly, lovers and peers for sexual exploitation. One primary strength is that the data collection is given in this research, it provides this journal with credibility to their assertions and declarations; interviewing being one of these methods, gives undisputable firsthand information. The weakness of the study is mentioned in the survey that, out of fear, children may succumb to lying; therefore, the accuracy of information may be 2% bias. The information is, however reliable, the state of South Africa found it credible and used it to enforce policies. This journal is a more diverse research on child abuse, enlightening on different facets of child abuse, such as emotional abuse.

7. Humphrey, C. (2015). Evil, Child Abuse, and the Caring Professions. Journal of Religion and Health, 54(5), 1660-1671. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24485314

Humphrey discusses the work of various USA therapists who have handled child abuse perpetrators and survivors, which led to an ethical framework of consequences and causes of child abuse. Also, he presents research of satanic child abuse and possession, disclosing the evil behind child abuse in the UK. In this journal, the methodology used surveys, whereby the work of 10 therapists’ is analyzed. The most prevalent cause of child abuse was evil and perverse intentions among these perpetrators; most of the perpetrators struggled with sexual addiction and perversion, had broken marriages, or were also victims of child abuse. The primary strength of this survey was that it sourced its information from professionals who worked with perpetrators, the horse’s mouth. The only weakness of the source was the survey from satanic child abuse, which could not be proven by physical evidence since these spirit possessions could not be verified by science or any sort of knowledge apart from Christianity. The source is reliable and very useful since it works directly with willing perpetrators who give testimony to the acts they did. Lastly, the study brings more of the perpetrator and his mind rather than the predominant discussions about child abuse causes.

8. Tener, D., & Murphy, S. (2015). Adult Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: A Literature Review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 16(4), 391-400. doi:10.2307/26638369

The purpose of this journal is to review different testimonials of adults’ disclosure of their child abuse experiences and their consequences. The journal premiers 26 child sexual abuse victims who agree tell of their stories, among 55. The methodology used to get this information was through interviewing. These 26 victims were successful recoveries of child abuse after long years of therapy and personal dedication and self-control. The challenges that these faced were sexual perversion through adolescents, masturbation, PTSD, and an inferiority complex. The strength of this article is that it is a piece of firsthand interview information from victims of child abuse and their journey to recovery. The weakness of this article was hard to locate since the article provided firsthand information and cited all sources. The journal is quite effective and reliable and is not biased in any way.

9. Underwood, J. (2016). Educators have a unique role in reporting suspected abuse. The Phi Delta Kappan, 97(5), 76-77. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24579784

The purpose of this study is to look at the role of educators or teachers in child abuse, especially that they get to spend more time with children, thus an excellent understanding of their nature; this article seeks to state the role of educators in reporting suspected child abuse. This article presents a quantitative analysis of the year 2013 in the United States by the Department of Health and Human Service, whereby 697,000 children fell victim of abuse, and 1,520 of these children lost their lives from abuse and neglect, which in average is four children daily. With this tally, the author asserts that the educators or teachers were at a high potential of noticing abuse to these children, and they also were obligated by the law of the land to report not only a case of abuse but also suspicion of abuse. The strength of this article is that it provides a different angle at looking at the problem, and citing all resources while the weakness of the article is that, it provides no solution for educators neither teaches techniques of identifying children who have faced abuse. The information is, however, reliable, useful, and very objective in nature, due to its academic adherence and rich content it provides according to its topic. What the journal adds in conjunction with the research topic is a recommendation for educators to carefully monitor behavioral change in their students, since at school is where they spend most of their time. The sudden change of behavioral change or signs of physical injury or stress should be engaged through conversations to find what the cause is.

10. Lee, C., Coe, C., & Ryff, C. (2017). Social Disadvantage, Severe Child Abuse, and Biological Profiles in Adulthood. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 58(3), 371-386. Retrieved March 31, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/44504747

The purpose of this paper is to review a biological profile of adults who have experienced severe child abuse; the authors concentrate on the intensity versus the effects. The authors use a survey done in 1995, namely, MIDUS whereby 7,108, participants in the United States within the range of age 25-78 were indulged. The survey results were split into three categories of abuse: emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, further divided into social status and race. The findings are: disadvantaged individuals, especially women, were at a higher risk of multiple types of abuse, especially sexual abuse. Also, child abuse, is of primary significance in the social status, or biological profiles during adulthood in that, severe cases of child abuse that go unhandled and the child lives with the bitterness, the child is most likely to make poor decisions in life ending up in an inferior social status or have a disturbed mind. The vast data analysis is this article’s strength since it scrutinized child abuse from different dimensions and by different methods. The weakness to this study is that it groups people with the same severity together and generalizes their situation whereas, people react differently when traumatized; also, the number of participants was too large to have one on one interviews. The information provided by this survey is reliable, beneficial for study, and is objective in all ways since it meets all academic criteria. This journal brings the issue of severity which is rarely spoken off and its involvement in the in the intensity of the consequences.