Effects of Childhood Abuse and the Importance of Healthy Childhood

Effects of Childhood Abuse and the Importance of Healthy Childhood

Problem Narrative

The difficulties or joys of one’s childhood always define the outcome of the individual later in life. Research has shown that individuals who have faced abuse in their early childhood development years are likely to develop behavioural, physical, and mental disorders compared to those who were not victims of abuse. While a healthy childhood is a right for every child, it is not always the case for all. How then, can they be helped from an early age to heal and rebuild themselves into individuals who can have a more fulfilled life and have a positive impact in the society despite the false start? This research aims to substantiate that a healthy childhood is core to a child’s future well-being and to show that child abuse has adverse effects on mental health.

Background

The early years of a child are critical to the child’s developmental trajectory and how they turn out in life. Many challenges in adulthood, like mental health problems, obesity, criminality, literal, and numeral competency, are rooted in early childhood (Irwin, Siddiqi, & Hertzman, 2007). Child abuse eats at a child’s well-being and leaves deep, lasting scars on the child. Neglect and abuse are manifested when a child is exposed to dangerous situations, exposure to sexual situations, or making them feel worthless and undignified.

Stability, responsiveness, feeling loved and wanted by family and community is crucial for a child’s well-being. Throughout one’s lifespan, early childhood is of monumental developmental phase. It influences the welfare of the child well into the future (Everett & Gallop, 2000). A healthy childhood is the right of every child.

Nurturing environments allow children to thrive and encourages them to engage the world around them, explore, and give them the desire to fulfil their potential (Alliance for childhood, 2012). Treatment of a child in the family environment in terms of care and attention offer significant input on how a child interacts with the broader environment (Siddiqi, Irwin & Hertzman, 2007). Children from stable families are less likely to experience mental health issues attributed to childhood abuse.

Child abuse and Mental health

Child abuse is either exposure to injury, death, emotional harm, or risk of severe damage to a child’s health, development, or survival. It is the physical, sexual, or psychological neglect of a child either by a parent or caregiver. Child abuse has been grouped into four broad categories. Physical abuse; non-accidental bodily injury is caused to a child by a parent or caregiver, Sexual abuse; a child is used for sexual purposes or involved in sexual acts by an adult or used for sexual excitement or gratification. Emotional abuse; a child’s mental and social development is harmed, or severe emotional devastation is caused. Emotional abuse causes damage over time in a pattern of behaviour. Child neglect; a parent or caregiver does not give care, affection, supervision, and support needed for a child’s health, well-being, and safety. Child neglect can be physical, medical, educational, emotional, among others.

Results of child abuse or maltreatment include impaired lifelong physical and mental health, and social and occupational outcomes. Childhood trauma, as defined by The National Institute of Mental Health (USA), is the occurrence of an incident that a child experiences and is emotionally distressful or painful that often results in lasting physical and mental effects. Outcomes for child abuse are both long term and short term.

Short term outcomes, which could carry over into adulthood include but not limited to eating disorders, sleep troubles, clingy and separation anxiety, irritability, constricted play and exploration, general fearfulness, and language delay (Springer & Sheridan 2003). When equated to those who have not experienced abuse, adults who have been subjected to abuse or maltreatment are more likely to develop behavioural, physical and mental health disorders like anxiety disorders, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), perpetrators of violence, alcohol and drug abuse, high-risk sexual behaviours, unintended pregnancy among others

Research has established the association between childhood abuse and adverse adult health outcomes. In adults, somatic symptoms have consistently been found to be higher where a history of physical or sexual abuse exists compared with those without an abuse history (Springer & Sheridan 2003). Adult depression, aggression, anger, fear, hostility, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders are positively related to child abuse. It also has significant effects on early-onset and persistent depression. In violent families, cases of persistent depression are rampant (Kessler & Magee 1994). Early adult psychopathology has been consistently impacted on by childhood abuse.

Early childhood and environment

A child’s early experiences are essential, and its well-being is crucial, not just for their own lives, but for society as a whole (ARACY, 2016). It is vital to get it right in the early years as a healthy childhood is a foundation for a healthy adult life and cohesive society (Masten & Gewirtz, 2006). It is crucial for children during the first childhood years to have excellent care, learning opportunities, adequate nourishment and family, and community support to ease the positive development of critical and verbal reasoning, self-regulation, and social skills.

A child’s environment serves as an influence on how the child grows up. While a child may be in a non-abusive family, the environment they are exposed to might play into their lives (Siddiqi, Irwin & Hertzman, 2007). Abuse may be caused by those within the society rather than from a parent or primary caregiver.

Importance of a healthy childhood.

Children with early strong affection relationships are equipped for a good start in life. They are well prepared with the human and social capital for success as they join educational institutions and society as opposed to those that don’t (Alliance for childhood, 2012). Such children can show resilience when faced with adversity and can keep and develop relationships. However, does this mean that victims of abuse are not able to have a good life later on, or develop human and social capital required to stand up to adversity? How can victims of abuse rebuild and assimilate themselves into society without shouldering the burden of their childhood hardships?

How can one recover from the damage that is done at such critical developmental stages? Healing from childhood trauma is not impossible, but it is hard. Trauma holds one back from their true potential and can generate momentous emotions, which one learns how to process those emotions, will continue to repeat the same damaging patterns that keep us stuck and hurting. Failure to acknowledge and face the traumas of one’s childhood causes them to rile like a bubbling volcano that will hinder many life prospects like relationships.

Abuse victims are encouraged to seek support and connect with others who might have suffered the same and draw strength to piece together parts of their lives. Getting close to people through interactions will help to resolve some of the trauma and diffuse the constant state of “fight or flight.”. Letting go is a final step that can be symbolized by safely eliminating something that one associates with the trauma. It assists with dispensing of the pent up negative energy.

Methods

To address the aims of this research, data from questionnaires will be used to select a minimum of eight people who encountered abuse in their childhood. Two people of each gender will be picked according to the type of abuse experienced, and four who had a healthy childhood and did not face abuse will be used. Additionally, the individuals involved in this research must be between the ages of eighteen to seventy-two, being ages of attaining adulthood and the average life expectancy in years. The group will constitute genders of male and female.

To collect a behavioural sample, the researcher investigator will research as follows;

• Each subject will be observed in their daily day to day life, and one on one interview with each of them.
• Focus groups with subjects of a particular gender, who have encountered abuse. This will be done separately for both males and females.
• Focus group with subjects who have not faced childhood abuse. This also will be separate for both males and females.
• A collective focus group for all individuals selected for this research will be done.

The methodological approach of direct observation will be practical as the researcher will get to observe naturalistic interactions of the subject without participating. The subjects will be observed and interviewed in familiar settings and data collected for analysis.

Conclusion

A child that had a healthy childhood will be better placed in society as opposed to one who has experienced abuse. Available information on child abuse is substantial, but the treatment of the same is scarce, and the outcome of this research will contribute to existing data and a foundation for future research on how to curb child abuse and policy development. Mental health professionals that are key in dealing with victims of abuse will be better equipped with knowledge on how to draw out the sensitive disclosures and to integrate the same in their helping strategies.

References

Alliance for Childhood. (2012-2022). Goals for the Decade of Childhood: 10 Pillars of a Good Childhood.http://www.allianceforchildhood.eu/files/Book2013/QOC13- Chapter5-Pulkinnen.pdf

Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). (2013). Report Card: The well-being of young Australians. www.aracy.com.au

Everett, B., & Gallop, R. (2000). The link between childhood trauma and mental illness: Effective interventions for mental health professionals. Sage Publications.

Irwin, L.G., Siddiqi, A., & Hertzman, C. (2007). Early Child Development: A Powerful Equalizer

Kessler RC, Magee WJ. Childhood family violence and adult recurrent depression. J Health Soc Behav. 1994;35:13–27.

Masten, A. S., & Gewirtz, A. H. (2006). Resilience in development: The importance of early childhood.

Siddiqi, A., Irwin, L.G., & Hertzman, C. (2007). Total Environment Assessment Model for Early Child Development

Springer, K. W., Sheridan, J., Kuo, D., & Carnes, M. (2003). The long-term health outcomes of childhood abuse. Journal of general internal medicine, 18(10), 864-870.