Introduction
Child abuse is a complex global issue that presents a significant challenge for modern society. Child maltreatment generally includes all types of neglect and abuse that occur to children under 18 (World Health Organization, 2022). However, the scope of the problem is not limited by physical harm caused to children, as it may seem at first.
Child maltreatment also includes other prominent issues that can affect a child’s development and life in the future. The frequency of intergenerational violence and maltreatment in cases of child abuse raises questions about the effects of parents’ exposure to violence on children. Thus, according to a recent study conducted by Langevin et al. (2023), physical violence toward children is higher in parents with a history of childhood physical abuse.
Moreover, nearly 87% of parents with a history of psychological maltreatment are psychologically maltreating their children (Langevin et al., 2023). Preventing further cycles of child abuse and maltreatment plays an important role in defining the future of modern society. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to examine the connection between intergenerational violence and child abuse.
Literature Review
As mentioned before, child development, safety, and well-being are critical to modern society as children define their future. While the health care system partially addresses issues in children’s well-being, little attention is paid to the issues of child neglect and emotional abuse caused by parents to their children. The study of child abuse cases began developing relatively recently, as parenting issues were not discussed in society for a long time.
For a long time, many parents believed in the positive effects of corporal punishment on the child’s discipline, and child abuse was considered a social norm as an element of punishment (Klika et al., 2019). With the introduction of child welfare agencies, it became clear that there are significantly more child abuse cases, but many remain hidden. Thus, on the one hand, children stay quiet due to a lack of awareness or fear of the abuser. On the other hand, people fear intervening in the conflict due to concerns about personal safety or fear of making the situation worse for the child (Klika et al., 2019). Therefore, the problem is significantly aggravated by the lack of opportunities for children to seek help.
Furthermore, many social work and community health studies focus on defining the connection between parents’ exposure to violence and subsequent maladjustments in children. Child maltreatment has significant adverse effects on their development, leading to such consequences as “suicidality, mortality and morbidity, psychopathology, substance misuse, risky behaviors, poor academic outcomes, and delinquent and criminal behavior” (Langevin et al., 2023, p.1). Parents’ exposure to violence can also have negative effects on children’s school experiences (Hashemi et al., 2022). However, in some cases, parents’ experience of child abuse has little to no impact on their children’s experience in school (Hashemi et al., 2022). The research paper will identify a more accurate scope of effects that child abuse experienced by parents has on their children, especially in emotional abuse and neglect.
Significance of the Study
Thus, the study’s significance in identifying the approximate range of the violence effects on parents will help define more effective strategies in working with the client population. Further implications can also include recommendations in preparation for childhood abuse and maltreatment survivors for parenting, such as nurturing development.
Conclusion
Therefore, this essay examines the rationale behind the future research paper’s emphasis on child abuse. Child abuse is therefore a multifaceted, worldwide problem with numerous facets. Determining the effects of exposure to childhood violence in earlier generations is necessary to address the current problems, given that research on protecting children from abuse is still in its infancy. Concerns regarding the impact of parents’ experiences with child abuse on children are raised by the prevalence of intergenerational violence in child abuse situations. Therefore, the paper will describe appropriate techniques for working with the population group and measures in support of parents’ nurturing development by identifying the extent of effects of violent exposure on parents and their children.
References
Hashemi, L., Fanslow, J., Gulliver, P., & McIntosh, T. (2020). Intergenerational impact of violence exposure: Emotional-behavioural and school difficulties in children aged 5–17. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 1-14. Web.
Klika, J.B., Haboush-Deloye, A. & Linkenbach, J. (2019). Hidden protections: Identifying social norms associated with child abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 36, 5-14. Web.
Langevin, R., Kern, A., Esposito, T., & Hélie, S. (2023). Homotypical and heterotypical intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment: Evidence from a cohort of families involved with child protection services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 1-15. Web.
WHO. (2022). Child maltreatment. Web.