In many homes around the world, children are daily victims of physical and mental

abuse. Any abuse to a child under the age of 18 by a parent or caretaker is labeled as child abuse.
These forms of abuse include physical assault, harassment, sexual abuse, and drug use in the
presence of a child. In Latin American countries, sexual abuse studies found that 32 percent of
girls in Costa Rica have been sexually abused, and 13 percent of boys, while in Nicaragua 26
percent of girls and 20 percent of boys have been sexually abused (Goldman). Child abuse takes
place worldwide. Statistics show that a larger amount of girls are abused compared to the amount
of boys. Children are victims of child abuse due to many contributing factors; this abuse leads to
differed behavior in the future.
The size of the family, the location of where the family lives, and the income level of the
family are all contributing factors to child abuse. Whether or not the parents abuse drugs or
alcohol is also a factor of child abuse. Each factor causes a psychological reasoning in the
abuser's head because it serves as an excuse. These factors are by no means an excuse for a child
to be a victim of abuse. Child abuse is not excusable in any means. These factors seem to justify
the abuse by the parent or caretaker. The adult may become unhappy with oneself, the living
situations, or the child and this can cause him or her to lash out on the child. The child becomes a
target of the rage.
Some characteristics frequently identified in those who are physically abusive or
neglectful include low self-esteem, an external locus of control (i.e., belief that events are
determined by chance or outside forces beyond one's personal control), poor impulse control,
depression, anxiety, and antisocial behavior (Goldman). Adults who suffer with mental disorders
often cause child abuse because of their inability to think with a clear mind. Anxiety, depression,
poor impulse control, an external locus of control, and low self-esteem are all contributing

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factors. This is not true in all cases, but abusive parents or caregivers commonly display these
traits. A method of help is putting the child in foster care or child protection services as well as
psychiatric help for the adult.
Substance abuse attributes to violence because of impaired judgment. Substance abuse
can interfere with a parent's mental functioning, judgment, inhibitions, and protective capacity
(Goldman). Anger is often a result when one is not sober. The adult will make irrational
decisions and say things that do not seem logical. Repeated substance abuse contributes to a
permanent irrational parenting style. This neglect becomes common and the child will start to
suffer from the repercussions of the parents substance abuse daily. Child abuse due to drugs or
alcohol can be prenatal or after the child is born. The use of drugs or alcohol while the child is
still in the womb can cause permanent damage to the fetus. The number of children born each
year exposed to drugs or alcohol is estimated to be between 550,000 and 750,000 (Goldman).
Substance abuse is serious and may require serious medical attention. Most users of drugs and
alcohol are not aware that they have a problem.
Disapproval of a child's behavior can often lead to child abuse. A parent sets expectations
on his or her child and when the expectations are not met, there is a punishment that follows.
Unreasonable punishment usually results from an inability to handle a child's behavior. Often,
these expectations may be unreasonable. Perhaps the parent expects the child to receive all As in
school and when there are five As and two Bs on a report card, the parent disapproves and
unreasonable punishment or abuse follows.
Age plays an important role in the relationship between the child and the adult. Teen
parenthood often results in stressful living situations. Some studies of physical abuse, in
particular, have found that mothers who were younger at the birth of their child exhibited higher

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rates of child abuse than did older mothers (Goldman). Most teen pregnancies are not planned.
Rape is a direct result of sexual abuse. Maynard included in her book Kids Having Kids that data
from the National Survey of Children indicate that 20 percent of sexually active teenagers have
had involuntary sex and over half of those who are sexually active before age 15 have
experienced involuntary sex (Alan Guttmacher Institute 1994). In addition to teen parenthood,
other family factors contribute to child neglect. Single parent households generally receive lower
incomes and as a result, there is a higher stress level. This can result in child neglect. There is
physical and sexual abuse that can result from chaotic and hectic living situations. The rate of
child abuse in single parent households is 27.3 children per 1,000, which is nearly twice the rate
of child abuse in two parent households (15.5 children per 1,000) (Goldman). A single parent
takes on the role of both parents and causes an immense stress level on his or her self. In certain
situations, the single parent may feel guilty about the absence of the other parents resulting in
neglect because they are unable to provide two parents. The child may experience life differently
and this causes the parent to feel bad.
Environmental factors such as poverty and unemployment are greatly associated with
child neglect. The NIS-3 study, for example, found that children from families with annual
incomes below $15,000 in 1993 were more than 22 times more likely to be harmed by child
abuse and neglect as compared to children from families with annual incomes above $30,000
(Goldman). These factors are not always necessarily true; however, studies show the statistics.
All of these instances of child abuse can cause long-term effects on the child. By the time
most victims of neglect have become adults, they may suppress the memories, have painful
flashbacks, or continue the abuse onto their children. Sexual behavior in children is rare.
Presence of this sexual behavior is an indicator of child abuse at home or in another setting.

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Parents and childcare providers are being asked to evaluate children's sexual behavior to be able
to identify if a child is being abused. This could tie in to future behavior; sex offenders could
have been abused as children and this behavior persists and they get older. When victims of child
abuse were studied all the way through middle adulthood, studies proved that there was an
impact on emotion processing due to maltreatment as children. A study by Palmer, Brown, RaeGrant, & Loughin (2001) with 384 survivors of childhood abuse found that survivors of child
abuse tended to be depressed, have low-self esteem, and to have problems with family
functioning (Child Abuse Has Many Potential Impacts). Children who were victims of physical
or sexual abuse often develop issues with creating and maintaining social relationships and resort
to isolation.
Although there are many factors that contribute to child neglect, this must end. Poverty,
family factors, age, location, and expectations of a child should not cause a child to be victimized
physically, mentally, or sexually. Children are supposed to be cared for and protected by adults.
A home should be a safe environment for a child. The public needs to be aware of the horrors
that take place within many homes today. Any sign of physical abuse demands immediate
professional attention.

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Works Cited
"Causes and Effects of Child Abuse." Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. Melissa J. Doak. 2009 ed.
Detroit: Gale, 2009. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8
Dec. 2014.
"Child Abuse." Global Issues in Context Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Global Issues In
Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

"Child Abuse Has Many Potential Impacts." Child Abuse Has Many Potential Impacts. Adults
Surviving Child Abuse, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.

"Child Abuse; Researchers from University of Michigan Discuss Findings in Child Abuse (Making
sense of children's sexual behavior in child care: An analysis of adult responses in special
investigation." Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week. 13 Dec. 2014: 485. eLibrary. Web. 08 Dec.
2014.

Goldman, J., M. K. Salus, D. Wolcott, and K. Y. Kennedy. "A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse
and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice." Chapter Five: What Factors Contribute to Child
Abuse and Neglect? N.p., 2003. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

Maynard, Rebecca A. "Kids Having Kids." Kids Having Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.

ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Child Abuse." ProQuest LLC. 2014: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 08
Dec. 2014
"Researchers from City University of New York Report on Findings in Child Abuse (Long-term effects
of child abuse and neglect on emotion processing in adulthood)." Health & Medicine Week 5
Sept. 2014: 885. Global Issues In Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2014

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