Photo by Caleb Woods
The effects of child abuse are something that people often downplay simply because a lot of us don’t really understand how damaging child abuse can be.
Being a survivor of child abuse myself, specifically childhood sexual abuse, I, Christina Balzani, authored my book Dry Your Eyes, Girl. It’s my wish to help little girls overcome the pain of childhood sexual abuse that they’ve unfortunately been subjected to. My book aims to turn kids into survivors who are thriving by empowering victims of sexual abuse after the monstrous thing that was done to them.
Now, let’s go ahead and talk more about the effects and how scarring child abuse can be.
Getting a Deeper Understanding of Child Abuse
The U.S. government defines child abuse, also referred to as child maltreatment, as an action or inaction on the part of a parent or caregiver that causes sexual, emotional, or physical harm. Furthermore, child abuse is defined by the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as any act that causes physical, sexual, or emotional harm to a person under the age of eighteen, including neglect.
What makes child abuse truly troubling is that the likelihood of a variety of unfavorable physical and mental disorders later in life is also increased by child maltreatment. Although parents are frequently the ones who abuse their children, other individuals are also capable of doing such an abhorrent act. These consist of other relatives, educators, friends’ parents, coaches, doctors, and spiritual counselors.
Insidiously, the perpetrators are often someone who the child knows extremely well, so much so that they’ve gained the kid’s trust. It’s also critical to remember that abuse of children can occasionally relate to abuse of other minors. For example, reporting statistics from the U.S. according to data from the Department of Justice, almost 40% of child sexual abuse cases involve other young people.
The Horrendous Consequences of Child Abuse
Child abuse carries with it a lot of negative effects. In my book Dry Your Eyes, Girl by Christina Balzani, I mention the negative effects of child abuse and how children carry those effects into adulthood. Here are some of the different ways that child abuse impacts kids:
- mistrust of adults or trouble establishing ties
- mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attachment difficulties
- physical illnesses, eating disorders, and developmental delays
- abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as risky sexual behavior
- aggressive, violent, or criminal behavior, as well as other behavioral issues
- thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- elevated feelings of fear, shame, and blame
- disorders related to learning, such as delayed cognitive and language development
- either death or long-term physical harm
- low regard for oneself
- strained bonds with those in charge of keeping kids safe
Parents, counselors, and other adults should also note that some youngsters who have experienced abuse might not manifest any signs present in their behavior.
Is Child Abuse Common Around the World?
You might not want to believe me when I say that child abuse is sadly very common. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in seven American children has been the victim of abuse or neglect in the previous year. Given the high number of unreported instances, this number is probably underestimated.
Based on reports they’ve gathered, UNICEF shares that 15 million girls around the age range of 15 to 19 years old have been subject to nonconsensual sex. It’s heartbreaking to know that so many children around the world are feeling the negative consequences of child abuse.
Signs We Should Be on the Lookout for Pertaining to Child Abuse
Child abuse can be very tricky to identify, particularly sexual abuse. However, by educating ourselves about child abuse and listening to our instincts guided by God, our eyes would be open to the signs of a child being abused.
Here are some signs that a child might be suffering some form of abuse:
- The child appears to have no parent or caretaker in their life.
- Numerous inexplicable school absences
- Abrupt behavioral shifts, including hostility or rage, scared reactions, or a drop in academic achievement
- Unhygienic living conditions, persistent hunger, or other health issues
- A fear of returning home
- Anxiety and depression
- Attempts at suicide or self-harm
- Strange paranoia or phobias related to certain individuals, places, or circumstances
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
Any of these signs could raise questions regarding the welfare of a child. Report the issue right away to a reliable authority if you have any doubts about the child’s safety.
Keep These Effects of Child Abuse in Mind and Help Kids Out
Abuse of children is a complex problem with long-lasting effects. But all hope isn’t lost because we can still help them. We can help them not go through such a harrowing experience and help them survive and thrive.
My book, Dry Your Eyes, Girl by Christina Balzani, is available for those who want to learn how I survived the pain of childhood sexual abuse and how God helped me thrive in life. Click here to get a copy of the book today!
- Rebuilding Trust After Abuse: A Long And Uncertain Journey - November 13, 2024
- How Do People Heal and Recover From Childhood Abuse? - November 6, 2024
- Childhood Abuse Trauma: Tainted Interpersonal Relationships - October 10, 2024
