Analyse Child Abuse

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze child abuse. Child abuse can be defined as physical maltreatment or the sexual molestation of a child (Popple & Leighninger, 2008, p.328). Child abuse is also defined on a spectrum ranging from harmful words to physical violence (Popple & Leighninger, 2008, p.328). The abuse of children is a prevalent issue in society. The four main types of abuse are, physical, sexual, psychological or emotional, and neglect (Smith & Segal, 2015, web). Children who come from families of abuse are more likely to suffer from physical, social, or mental disorders, and turn to substance abuse later in life (Safe Horizon, 2015, web). These children are also more likely to be in an abusive relationship one day …show more content…
Substance and domestic abuse have been identified as key factors in many child abuse cases. Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs (WHO, 2015, web). Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person (Smith & Segal, 2015, web). Another cause is lack of education. Sometimes the abusers do not have the education or skills to raise a child affectively causing the child abuse or neglect. Children who are disabled or ill are more susceptible to abuse because the abuser gets frustrated when taking care of the child. Other causes of child abuse are, poverty, serious marital problems, moving a lot, violence between family members, lack of support from extended family, loneliness, unemployment, and inadequate housing (DHS, 2013, web). Poverty can cause abuse in the form of neglect, such as not having enough money to provide the child with food, clothes, water, or shelter. Poverty can also be the cause of inadequate housing. Serious marital problems can cause abuse to the child (DHS, 2013, web). For instance, if one parent tries to take the child away from the other parent, the child is in danger of violence occurring. One parent may also hit or yell at the child after an argument with their spouse because they are angry. Violence between family members can cause physical and emotional abuse within the child. If one parent is violent towards the other parent, the child might try to intervene and get hurt in the process. A parent suffering from depression or low self-esteem can cause abuse to the child (DHS, 2013, web). If the parent doesn’t feel good about themselves, they may take it out on their