Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

Child Maltreatment
Laura Nordquist
PSY 1100-403
Salt Lake Community College
October 8, 2016

Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

Child maltreatment is the act or failure to act in response to the abuse or neglect of a
child. There are many negative consequences that maltreated children suffer from throughout
their lives. Physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal problems are caused by child
maltreatment and the cost, both financial and personal, affects us all because of its prevalence
and consistency.
Parents who abuse or neglect their children have often been victims of maltreatment
themselves. Abuse and neglect are also more prevalent among those families with a low SES
who live in high-risk neighborhoods and who experience a large amount of stress. When these
factors combine with other risk factors such as depression, substance abuse, and social isolation,
the chance of child maltreatment greatly increases. The social attitudes toward violence, in media
and culture, have also been identified as causes for child maltreatment (Child Welfare
Information Gateway, 2016).
The long-term effects of abuse or neglect depend on several things including the victims
age, development, type and frequency of abuse, as well as their resilience against maltreatment
(Gateway, Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect, 2013).
Physical health consequences can be seen throughout victims lives. Abusive head
trauma, caused by shaking or a blunt impact, is most often the cause of traumatic death for
infants. One in four victims of shaken baby syndrome die, and almost all cases result in serious
health consequences for the victims later on if life (Gateway, Long-Term Consequences of Child
Abuse and Neglect, 2013). Children also suffer impaired brain development from abuse which
can result in hypervigilance, anxiety, impulsivity, and persistent fearful traits. Abuse can also
cause heart issues, lung and liver disease, diabetes, asthma, and obesity throughout the childs
life (Gateway, Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect, 2013).

Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

The numerous psychological consequences of abuse and neglect are staggering. Infants
can have a difficult time adjusting to a new, non-abusive caretaker and suffer from attachment
issues later on. Abused children have many social problems such as modeling inappropriate
adult behavior, aggression towards others, and difficulty showing attachment to others that they
dont know well (Gateway, 2013). The possibility of cognitive repercussions, such as repeating a
grade, increases. The probability of mental and emotional health issues, such as personality
disorders, depression, and anxiety, are much higher for victims. In fact, abused or neglected
female children are 54% more likely to have depression and 58% more likely to attempt suicide
when they become an adolescent or adult (Gateway, 2013).
Inappropriate behavior can be a result of abuse or neglect. More than half of those who
have been abused or neglected are known to have substance abuse incidents,
delinquency/criminal behavior, and/or become pregnant as a teenager (Gateway, 2013). The risk
of being raped as an adult for sexually abused children becomes progressively higher depending
on the severity of the abuse when they were a child. Men who have been maltreated are 4,000
percent more likely to use alcohol or drugs if they have six or more abusive instances as a child
(Gateway, 2013).
The financial impact of child maltreatment is very great. The total cost caused by child
maltreatment in the U.S. during 2010 was $104 billion, which rivals the costs of stroke and type
two diabetes. The average cost per victim in that same year was $210, 012. These statistics
include the cost of childhood care, medical care, productivity loss, child welfare, criminal justice,
and special education costs (CDC, 2014). Effective prevention would cost our nation less than
the current cost resulting from child maltreatment.

Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

The key to prevention of child maltreatment is to stop it before it ever happens by
providing safe, nurturing, and stable relationships and surroundings for children (CDC, 2014).
Some of the prevention strategies that have been effective include educating parents about
positive parenting skills and providing them with social support (CDC, 2014). There are three
types of prevention when it comes to child maltreatment which include primary, secondary, and
tertiary.
Primary prevention is meant for and accessible to the general population and includes
public service announcements, parent education programs, support groups, family strengthening
programs, and public awareness campaigns (Gateway, Framework for prevention of child
maltreatment, 2016).
Secondary prevention is targeted toward families and individuals who are at a higher risk
for child maltreatment. The factors that contribute to high risk include poverty, drug abuse,
mental health issues, disabilities, or a young parenting age. Secondary prevention programs
provide home visits to assist new mothers and support groups to help parents deal with the
everyday stress, responsibilities, and challenges that come with being a parent. They also
provide respite care for families that have a child with a disability. Family resource centers that
are located in low SES areas provide information and referral services for families (Gateway,
Framework for prevention of child maltreatment, 2016).
Tertiary Prevention focuses on those situations where maltreatment has already occurred.
It tries to limit and reduce the negative consequences that result as well as prevent the
maltreatment from happening again. Mental health services and counseling for everyone
involved are provided. Other measures are taken as well, such as parent mentor programs.
Parent mentors are parents from stable, non-abusive families that can act as role models and be

Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

there for a high risk family in a crisis (Gateway, Framework for prevention of child
maltreatment, 2016).
In the state of Utah, everyone who witnesses child maltreatment is required by law to
report it (Gateway, State Statutes Search Utah, 2016). Personally, I believe that everyone has a
moral responsibility as well to these children and should take the appropriate steps to help treat
and stop the abuse or neglect. It is vital to increase the publics knowledge and understanding of
the negative effects of child maltreatment and how to recognize the signs of it in order to be able
to make a report.
As a member of society and a future elementary education teacher, I can do a lot to help
those children who have been victims of maltreatment. I have been told and understand that I
will encounter maltreatment in my future career more often than I should and must report my
suspicions and observations. This will be the first and very important step to helping those
children. I can also make a difference today by watching for and being aware of the possible
signs of child abuse or neglect and following through with a report.
Child maltreatment is a profound social problem and it affects many lives in a very
negative way. The repercussions from it can be felt by the victims as well as by society as a
whole. Unfortunately, child maltreatment will always exist. Through educating society, using
effective prevention strategies, and getting appropriate treatment for victims we can decrease
incidences and give families useful tools to manage children in a different way.

Running head: CHILD MALTREATMENT

References
CDC. (2014). Child maltreatment facts at a glance. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
Child Abuse and Neglect. (2016). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p. 1.
Gateway. C.W. (2016). Mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.
Gateway, C. W. (2013, July). Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved
October 2016, from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long-termconsequences/
Gateway, C. W. (2016). Framework for prevention of child maltreatment. Retrieved 2016, from
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/overview/framework/
Gateway, C. W. (2016). State Statutes Search Utah.