The Psychological Effects of Abuse on Adolescents

Multiple Behavioral Problems Developed Due to Abuse

There are multiple behavioral problems an adolescent may develop due to the abuse. An adolescent may feel as their life has no self worth leading to repeated self-injury or even suicide. It may also cause depression or panic attacks. An adolescent may even turn against themselves and become the abuser to themselves, inflicting pain to themselves and even down grading themselves (Jirage, 2009).

Fatalities of Adolescents Inflicted Due to the Abuse

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) define child fatality as “the death of a child caused by an injury resulting from abuse or neglect, or where abuse or neglect was a contributing factor. This includes shaken baby syndrome, chocking a child, and drowning. Though it is hard to determine whether an adolescent is being abused that resulted in death, factors provide help determining this, whether it is through previous abuse inflicted or found through medical records or autopsy findings. NCANDS reported in the year 2006 an estimated there was 1,530 child fatalities. This translates to a rate of 2.04 children per 100,000 children in the general population (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008).

Child Abuse Prevention

In conclusion, it is every ones responsibility to ensure our adolescents are safe and secure from abuse. One must either keep the abuse from ever happening or stop the abuse in the process; this may take calling the authorities like the police or child protective authorities. There are also many programs that one can look into that have prevention programs such as; public awareness, skills-based curricula, and parent education. These programs can be found in the local phone book. This is only a few to the long list on how to prevent child abuse (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008).

Works Cited

Administration for Children and Families. (2007). Child Maltreatment 2007. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Administration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm07/chapter3.htm#types

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2008). Characteristics of Perpetrators. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/perpetrators/characteristics.cfm

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2008). Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities: Statistics and Interventions. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/fatality.cfm

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2008). Definitions in Federal law. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/federal.cfm

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2008). Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/preventingcan.cfm

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Sources of Definitions in State Law. Retrieved June 07, 2009, from Child Welfare: http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/state.cfm

Jirage, R. (2009, 23 January). The Psychological Effects of Child Abuse. Retrieved 24 May, 2009, from Buzzle.com: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-psychological-effects-of-child-abuse.html