The Causes of Child Abuse and Neglect and the Long Term Effects on Human Development from Infancy to Adulthood
Sheila Y. Boone
Liberty University
December 10, 2008
Abstract
Child abuse and neglect is a prevalent issue in the United States. Every year approximately one million infants, children and adolescents are victims of child abuse and neglect. Research has linked childhood experiences of abuse and neglect with some serious life-long developmental, social, emotional and other significant problems. This paper will address risk factors that are associated with abuse and neglect, who is at risk for being abused, as well as some traits of the abuser. This paper will incorporate child development across the lifespan, as well as some information about how abuse and neglect affects a child’s language, cognitive, social/emotional, motor and adaptive skills, as well as physical health. Effective parenting techniques and strategies for prevention and intervention will be shared.
Introduction Child and abuse and neglect can have significant negative developmental impacts on children from infancy to adulthood. “Child maltreatment is a broad, all-encompassing term used to describe the many ways that children may be mistreated by adults in their lives. Child maltreatment can be defined as a behavior towards another person, which is outside the norms of conduct and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to the child. Maltreatment is divided into four main categories: sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional maltreatment and neglect.” (Tyler, Allison & Winsler, 2006)
Literature Review According to (Herrenkohl & Herrenkohl, 2007), there is “a strong association between maltreatment and environmental and family stressors and the long term outcomes of the child.” Fathers or male caregivers, perpetrate a substantial proportion of child physical abuse in North America. Research indicates that
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