The Causes and Effects of Child Abuse

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Cause and Effect Essay Cause and Effects of Child Abuse Thousands of children are abused every day. Child abuse is a very disturbing action taken on an innocent child by adults, usually by a parent or other family member. Abuse can come in different forms, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. These types of abuse can cause everlasting effects on a child’s life well into adulthood. Experts define physical abuse as a non-accidental injury resulting from hitting, whipping, beating, biting, kicking, or anything that harms a child’s body. The effects of physical abuse could cause immediate pain and medical problems to its victims. The results of this type of abuse could cause brain damage, hearing and vision loss, broken bones, cognitive delays and sometimes result in death. Children who are abused in this manner often have visible scars as well. Many of the injuries sustained from physical abuse affect its victims well into adulthood. The long term physical effects may include arthritis, hypertension, heart disease and chronic pain syndrome. The psychological damage can be devastating. This psychological effect can lead to domestic and family abuse in the abused children’s own relationships as adults. When a child grows up with an abusive parent, they know no other way to express their emotions except by lashing out. More than likely, their children will be the same way. Sexual abuse can cause serious trauma to a child that he or she may not be able to understand or even talk about for years to come. Young children are vulnerable to sexual abuse due to their innocence and trust that they have for others. This type of abuse robs children from their childhood. Sexual abuse can lead to antisocial behavior, depression, and identity confusion; it also creates a loss of trust and feelings of guilt. When a child is molested, he or she loses the
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