| BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT |
| CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE Why would someone abuse a defenseless child? What kind of person abuses a child? Not all child abuse is deliberate or intended. Several factors in a person’s life may combine to cause them to abuse a child: → Stress; including the stress of caring for children, or the stress of caring for a child with a disability, special needs, or difficult behaviors. → Lack of nurturing qualities necessary for caring for a child → Difficulty controlling anger → Personal history of being abused → Isolation from the family or community → Physical or mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety → Alcohol or drug abuse → Personal problems such as martial conflict, unemployment, or financial difficulties We cannot predict which of the above factors will cause someone to abuse a child. A major factor is that abuse tends to be intergenerational, meaning those who were abused as children are more likely to repeat the act when they become parents or caretakers. Many forms of child abuse stem from lack of models or information, isolation, or neglect. CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD ABUSE Child abuse can have dreadful consequences, during both childhood and adulthood. The effects of being abused as a child vary according to the cruelty of the abuse and the surrounding environment of the child. If the family or school environment is supportive and fostering, the child will more than likely have a healthier outcome. NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD ABUSE Emotional Effects → Low self-esteem → Depression and anxiety → Eating disorders → Relationship difficulties → Alienation and withdrawal → Personality disorders Physical Effects → Injury → Death → Lifelong health problems → Cognitive difficulties Behavioral Effects → Problems in school and work → Delinquency → Teen pregnancy → Suicide attempts → Criminal or antisocial behavior → Substance abuse → Aggressive behavior → Spousal and child abuse HOW TO RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE? Look for clusters of the following physical and behavioral symptoms: Some signs of physical child abuse: → Burns, bite marks, cuts, bruises, or welts in the shape of an object → Resistance to going home → Fear of adults Some signs of emotional child abuse: → Apathy, depression → Hostility → Difficulty concentrating Some signs of sexual child abuse: → Inappropriate interest in or knowledge of sexual acts → Seductiveness → Avoidance of things related to sexuality, or rejection of own genitals or body → Either over compliance or excessive aggression → Fear of a particular person or family member Please keep in mind that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reminds us that child abuse and neglect is a crime, and so is the failure to report it. It is our community responsibility to minimize child abuse and neglect. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-252-5400. |