The Long Term Effects of Child Abuse

Introduction
Child abuse is defined as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill
treatment and neglect which entails a substantial risk of causing actual
or potential harm to the childs wellbeing (The World Health
Organization 1999). Its commonly assumed that the damaging effects
of child abuse are outgrown by the time adulthood is reached, however
the consequences of abuse can last a lifetime. This paper will explore
the different ways child abuse plays a large part in shaping an adult
survivors mental health.
Literature Review
In 2011, 676, 569 children were victims of child abuse or neglect
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012) and it is
estimated at least one in four children have experienced child abuse or
neglect at one point in their lives. The impact of child abuse is often
split into different types, yet most types of impact can have
implications on others. The main types of consequences are split into
physical, psychological, behavioral and societal.
Individuals outcomes vary and are affected by a number of
factors and specifics. The main factors that impact these outcomes are
the childs age and development status at the time of the abuse, the
type of abuse along with the frequency and duration, and also the

relationship between the child and abuser. Many researchers have tried
to understand why some children experience long-lasting
consequences of child abuse, while some get through unmarked. This
is attributed to the childs resilience which is the ability to cope
following an negative experience. This resilience is not an inherited
trait and results from a mixture of risk and protective factors, a
supportive and protective community surrounding the child, as well as
a reassured sense of safety.
Most adult survivors of child abuse dont see a connection
between what happened in their past and their present life problems
and some will deny that the punishment they received was abusive.
The impact of child abuse is often delayed and slowly developed which
is why adults often dismiss the correlation. When a child is abused,
their relationship and trust with the world is violated, and since the
primary relationship is one of betrayal, a negative set of beliefs are
formed. This often affects the childs ability to form significant
attachments throughout life. Survivors mostly live a life of on-going
crisis and they keep this internal chaos to prevent their environment
from being consistent and predictable. Many of the crises adult
survivors will experience, such as job loss, failing relationships, and
financial instability, are the result of unresolved issues. By never
resolving these underlying issues and always functioning in crisis-

mode the life is one that is exhausting and creates a feeling of

hopelessness.
There have many studies done on the adult survivors of child
abuse. Professor Bessel van DerKolk from Harvard Medical School
conducted a 5 year study consisting of 528 trauma patients from
American hospitals. He found that survivors were unable to regulate
emotions such as rage or terror, they had intense suicidal feelings, a
negative self-perception, and a chronic feeling of isolation and despair.
Another study found that almost 76% of adults reporting physical child
abuse and neglect often have at least one psychiatric disorder in their
lifetime and 50% have 3 or more psychiatric disorders (Harper, 2007).
Survivors are two and a half times more likely to have poor mental
health as well as poor physical health. There is found to be an
increased risk of having 3 or more medical diseases, a higher number
of broken relationships with lower rates of marriage and are much
more likely to have substance abuse problems (Draper, 2007). Allan
Schwartz, a licensed clinical social worker for over 30 years, states that
adult survivors have various symptoms. He states many have low-self
esteem, generalized anxiety that is caused by no particular present
event, panic attacks associated with PTSD, social isolation and a lack of
friendships, dissociative disorders, a lack of trust, a chronic feeling of
guilt and fear. Most adult survivors have a tendency to explain that

parental abuse was deserved, and also have a fear that underneath
they are just like the abusive parent.
Children are resilient and are often able to bounce back from
negative events. During the childs developmental stage, repeated
exposure to stress can make the brain more reactive and less adaptive
in response to future stress. A crucial part to the recovery process is
being able to discuss and guide the child. The impact doesnt stop
when the abuse stops and being able to understand the relationship
between ones prior abuse and current behavior, is the first step
towards recovery. Children who are able to recreate a safe stable
environment and find trust and love are less likely to have the child
abuse effect them later on in life.
Application
I chose this topic because I was abused when I was a child by my
father. I never used to really see it as child abuse because it was never
as bad as what Id heard or seen on TV. It hasnt been until recently, as
well as researching for this paper, that I am beginning to realize a lot of
my mental health problems are a result of my past. I was recently
diagnosed with borderline personality disorder which I was told is
formed by creating bad coping mechanisms and that I need to relearn
a lot of what I believe to be true.
I cut off communication with my father at the age of 13 and by
the age of 15 I first experienced depression. I developed an eating

disorder, and over the span of the last five years I have formed a
substance abuse problem, destroyed many personal relationships,
have a very high anxiety level, and am depressed. When I first cut off
contact, I had to teach myself to not flinch whenever someone yelled
around me, or not feel so panicked when I thought I saw my father.
These are still issues I face, but I had thought that I had dealt with the
effects of child abuse. After researching this topic as well as talking to
various therapists, it is very apparent to me that it is something that I
never dealt with head on or had the support to confront. I spent many
years wondering why I had these problems, where they came from and
what had caused them and it has been a very long process to now
realize that my history with child abuse is a big factor.
Conclusion
I learned a lot about this topic and it made me understand a lot
more about myself and why I am the way I am. By knowing the results
of child abuse can be long-lasting, myself and others can be more
aware of where our issues stemmed from instead of feeling so clueless
and hopeless. I think that it is important for parents, or other support
systems to discuss child abuse when it happens and be there for
support and talk through it. Re-establishing a trust and love is crucial
for a childs future. I feel strongly about this topic, and I wish that I had
a better support system and that I couldve prevented some of how my

life has gone. It is a constant battle and something to always

remember.
References
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2006). Choice Reviews Online,
44(04). doi:10.5860/choice.44-2138
Effects of child abuse and neglect for adult survivors. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 13, 2016, from https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/effects-childabuse-and-neglect-adult-survivors
Child abuse has many potential negative impacts. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 13, 2016, from http://www.blueknot.org.au/WHAT-WEDO/Resources/General-Information/Impact-of-child-abuse
Schwartz, A. (n.d.). The Deleterious Effects of Child Abuse. Retrieved
June 13, 2016, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/the-deleteriouseffects-of-child-abuse/