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  • Essay / Child Abuse: The Epidemic That Must End - 1446

    Child abuse is an epidemic in many countries as well as the United States. It is estimated that every thirteen seconds a child is abused in some way: physically, sexually, emotionally or through neglect (Friedman). Each year, there are more than 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States, involving more than 6 million children. Child abuse can be reduced through appropriate parent education and greater public awareness. Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of a child. There are four main categories: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and sexual abuse of children (Levi, Lo, Selby, and Vandenburg). Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which the perpetrator is responsible for providing care to a victim who is incapable of caring for themselves, but fails to provide adequate care. Physical violence is violence involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, hurt, or other physical pain or bodily harm. This includes violent and extreme exposure to the elements (cold, heat, radiation, burning, or freezing), drowning, rape, poisoning, biting, and countless other forms of physical harm. Psychological abuse, also called emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. (Selby and Vandenburg) Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activity, indecent exposure with the intent to gratify sexual desires or bully...... middle of paper ........Lo, Celia C. , and Tyrone C. Cheng. “The Impact of Childhood Abuse on Young Adult Substance Abuse.” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 33.1 (2007): 139-46. Internet. October 30, 2014..Murray, Joseph and David P. Farrington. “Risk factors for conduct disorders and delinquency: main results from longitudinal studies.” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 55.10 (2010): 633-42. Internet. October 30, 2014..Selby, Mary. “Protection and safeguarding of children.” Nurse Practice 41.4 (2011): 32-39. Internet. October 30, 2014. Vandenberg, Brian and Ursula Marsh. “Youth Aggression: Child Maltreatment, Gender, and SES.” North American Journal of Psychology 11.3 (2009): 437-41. Internet. October 20. 2014.