Child Abuse: Signs, Types, Impact

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIndicators of Child AbuseTypes of Child AbuseImpact of Child AbuseHow to Manage the Effects of Child Abuse

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Indicators of Child Abuse

Types of Child Abuse

Impact of Child Abuse

How to Manage the Effects of Child Abuse

Child abuse is the wrongful treatment of a child. It may be in the form of physical,emotional, orsexual abuse. This form of abuse may also be recognized as the exploitation of a child, as well as the failure to properly care for a child, otherwise known asneglect.

Children that are subjected to abuse usually experience harm to their health, welfare, and self-respect.

This article covers the many forms of child abuse, how each form impacts a child’s mental and physical well-being, and discusses how childhood trauma can be treated.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

When a child is experiencing ill-treatment from a caregiver or other person, there are signs that may indicate abuse. These include:

Signs of Physical Abuse

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Signs of Neglect

Behavioral Cues of Child Abuse

Mental Health Effects of Different Types of Abuse

Child abuse is committed in epidemic proportions in the United States. Every year, approximately one million childrenare deprived of a normal, harm-free childhood. Instead, they are subjected to the horrors of maltreatment in their formative stages.

The abuse of children may take different forms, listed below.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse may involve hitting a child with hands or an object. Burning, biting, or physically restraining a child with the intent to do harm is also considered physical abuse.

Children of all races, ethnicities and economic groups may be subject to physical abuse. It is, however, more commonly observed in boys and infant children.

A child is also at a higher risk of physical abuse where they live with a disability or are under the care of an unmarried mother.

There is also an increased chance of violence where a child is raised in poverty, or in a home where domestic violence is rampant. The same goes in situations where a child grows up with an unrelated adult, or with more than two siblings at home.

Emotional Abuse

This form of abuse may not always have the immediately apparent signs of physical harm but is no less painful.

In 2010, The Federal Report of Child Maltreatment Statistics stated that 8% of all reported cases of child maltreatment involve emotional abuse. There is a chance that cases of emotional abuse may be even higher than those reported.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse refers to the forceful participation of children in sexual acts. It may also involve forcing a child to engage in sexual acts that they do not fully understand.  This abuse may also force children to engage in sexual acts that they do not fully understand.

Sexual abuse includes sexual assault, rape, incest, fondling, oral sexual contact, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or genital/anal penetration.Sexual abuse is a worryingly common form of child abuse. By adulthood, it is estimated that 26% of girls and 5% of boys will experience this maltreatment.

While sexual contact typically makes up sexual abuse, non-contact improper treatment may also come under the abuse classification. This includes the exposure of a child to sexual activity or taking inappropriate photographs of children.

Neglect

This is the failure of a caregiver/parent to meet the most basic needs of a child. It is the most common form of child abuse where approximately two-thirds of reports to child protective services are made over concerns of child neglect.

This form of abuse is also apparent where a child is not given the right nutritional care, or when children are exposed to harmful substances like drugs.

Abuse hasfar-reaching effectson every aspect of a child’s well-being.

Impact of Physical Abuse

Impact of Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse may cause a disconnect in a child’s sense of self. This abuse could be responsible for negative disruptions in the brain, anxiety, depression,low self-esteem,hostile behaviors, and noticeable delinquent habits such as alcohol use in early adulthood.

Impact of Sexual Abuse

The sexual abuse of children has both immediate and long-term effects on their well-being. Survivors of child sexual abuse may feel anger, guilt, and shame over the treatment they have endured.

Children who have experienced sexual abuse are also at a higher risk of developing anxiety, depression, and inappropriate sexual behaviors in life. In later years, these survivors may experience problems likealcoholism, drug dependency, marriage/family difficulties, and aworrying preoccupation with suicide.

Impact of Neglect

A child left without the useful tools and care for proper development may perform poorly in school. This child is also likely to display emotional and behavioral problems as a result of their abandonment.

Later difficulties in life like liver and heart disease may also be traceable to poor treatment received in childhood.

In suspected cases of child abuse at the hands of a parent or caregiver, this treatment should be reported to child protection services or other relevant law enforcement agencies.

Children that have been physically abused should then be stabilized, with examinations carried out to determine the extent of the ill-treatment endured.

Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse victims, as well as children that have lived through neglect, need appropriate care. These children may be protected using treatments likepsychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Therapy is useful for addressing the issues linked with abuse and neglect. It is also necessary to teach a child appropriate behaviors for adult-child relationships. Therapy can also provide a support system for poorly treated children.

Medication may be recommended for the PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other pains associated with abusive treatment.

Maltreatment is a painful thing to experience during development. The different forms of child abuse have far-reaching effects on welfare, but may be managed using the right methods.

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10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gonzalez D, Bethencourt Mirabal A, McCall JD.Child Abuse and Neglect.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse.Mahoney J.Types of abuse.Nurs Clin North Am. 2011;46(4):385-v. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2011.08.005Brown CL, Yilanli M, Rabbitt AL.Child Physical Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Shin SH, Lee S, Jeon SM, Wills TA.Childhood emotional abuse, negative emotion-driven impulsivity, and alcohol use in young adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2015;50:94-103. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.010Murray LK, Nguyen A, Cohen JA.Child sexual abuse.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014;23(2):321-337. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.003Melmer MN, Gutovitz S.Child Sexual Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Dubowitz H.Neglect in children.Pediatr Ann. 2013;42(4):73-77. doi:10.3928/00904481-20130326-11Childwelfare.gov. Anthony U., Cynthia W.Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2000. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 36.) Chapter 3—Comprehensive Treatment for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and Neglect.

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gonzalez D, Bethencourt Mirabal A, McCall JD.Child Abuse and Neglect.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse.Mahoney J.Types of abuse.Nurs Clin North Am. 2011;46(4):385-v. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2011.08.005Brown CL, Yilanli M, Rabbitt AL.Child Physical Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Shin SH, Lee S, Jeon SM, Wills TA.Childhood emotional abuse, negative emotion-driven impulsivity, and alcohol use in young adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2015;50:94-103. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.010Murray LK, Nguyen A, Cohen JA.Child sexual abuse.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014;23(2):321-337. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.003Melmer MN, Gutovitz S.Child Sexual Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Dubowitz H.Neglect in children.Pediatr Ann. 2013;42(4):73-77. doi:10.3928/00904481-20130326-11Childwelfare.gov. Anthony U., Cynthia W.Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2000. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 36.) Chapter 3—Comprehensive Treatment for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gonzalez D, Bethencourt Mirabal A, McCall JD.Child Abuse and Neglect.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Stanford Medicine.Child abuse.Mahoney J.Types of abuse.Nurs Clin North Am. 2011;46(4):385-v. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2011.08.005Brown CL, Yilanli M, Rabbitt AL.Child Physical Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Shin SH, Lee S, Jeon SM, Wills TA.Childhood emotional abuse, negative emotion-driven impulsivity, and alcohol use in young adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2015;50:94-103. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.010Murray LK, Nguyen A, Cohen JA.Child sexual abuse.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014;23(2):321-337. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.003Melmer MN, Gutovitz S.Child Sexual Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.Dubowitz H.Neglect in children.Pediatr Ann. 2013;42(4):73-77. doi:10.3928/00904481-20130326-11Childwelfare.gov. Anthony U., Cynthia W.Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2000. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 36.) Chapter 3—Comprehensive Treatment for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Gonzalez D, Bethencourt Mirabal A, McCall JD.Child Abuse and Neglect.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.

Stanford Medicine.Child abuse.

Mahoney J.Types of abuse.Nurs Clin North Am. 2011;46(4):385-v. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2011.08.005

Brown CL, Yilanli M, Rabbitt AL.Child Physical Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.

Shin SH, Lee S, Jeon SM, Wills TA.Childhood emotional abuse, negative emotion-driven impulsivity, and alcohol use in young adulthood.Child Abuse Negl. 2015;50:94-103. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.010

Murray LK, Nguyen A, Cohen JA.Child sexual abuse.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014;23(2):321-337. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.003

Melmer MN, Gutovitz S.Child Sexual Abuse And Neglect. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.

Dubowitz H.Neglect in children.Pediatr Ann. 2013;42(4):73-77. doi:10.3928/00904481-20130326-11

Childwelfare.gov. Anthony U., Cynthia W.Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2000. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 36.) Chapter 3—Comprehensive Treatment for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and Neglect.

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