...Repressed and silent suffering: consequences of childhood sexual abuse for women’s health and well-being Sigrun Sigurdardottir RN, MS (Director) (PhD Student)1,2 and Sigridur Halldorsdottir RN, MSN, PhD (Med Dr) (Professor and Chairman)3 1 The Icelandic Research Center Against Violence, Akureyri, Iceland, 2Public Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland and 3Faculty of Graduate Studies, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 422–432 Repressed and silent suffering: consequences of childhood sexual abuse for women’s health and well-being Research results indicate that psychological trauma in childhood caused by child sexual abuse can have serious and widespread consequences for health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the consequences of childhood sexual abuse for women’s health and well-being. The research methodology was phenomenology. Seven women with a history of childhood sexual abuse were interviewed twice with 1–6 months interval. For all the women, the abuse started when they were between 4 and 5. All of them were repeatedly violated and traumatized ever since then and were even still being victimized at the time of the interviews. The main result of the study is that time does not heal all wounds. All the women described great repressed and silent suffering in all aspects of life, and the abuse is still seriously affecting them and their loved...
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...about an individual’s response to sexual trauma. The victim of that trauma has a high likelihood of creating an offence of their own, possibly using substance as a way to cope, or make any number of poor choices as a means of dealing with the abuse. What the sad thing is about it all is that many of the offenders begin as children who are powerless to defend themselves to someone who is usually in their Family. It is only through later acknowledging the trauma that someone can begin to understand the outcome of what happened to them from that incident. There are a number of outcomes that will be dicussed as well as the addiction itself and the healing process in this paper. The focus throughout being what the responses are to sexual trauma. What is Sexual Abuse? Sexual abuse is not the only abuse that can occur in a home that can have lifelong affects on a child. There are many abuses at which many different homes are guilty of. For most homes there is much dysfunction and this dysfunction can lead to or open a door for abuse. Because of the home being the primary place for sexual abuse and other abuses it is important to see what types of abuse can come from the home. According to Laaser; there are four types of abuses specific to the home and they are physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual (2004). All of these are serious and can lead to problems for a child later in life what is interesting is that sexual abuse leads to shame and the human response...
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...PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT Psychological Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect Freddy Cabrera General Psychology 1012 4 April 2012 Florida National College Abstract Child abuse and neglect is a growing issue that threatens the health of its victims not only physically but psychologically as well. Some of these psychological effects include difficulties during infancy, poor mental and emotional health, cognitive difficulties, and social difficulties. Psychological Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect The year is 2012 and in this day in age, society is still faced with issues such as child abuse and neglect. “An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Child abuse and neglect is a growing dilemma not only in the United States but also worldwide. Child abuse and neglect is an issue that must be studied to see the significant effects it has on its victims. These effects can be great, the most prominent being physical, psychological, and societal consequences. The following will focus on the psychological effects, and these can be summarized with difficulties during infancy, poor mental and emotional health, cognitive difficulties, and social difficulties. When taking a look at child abuse and neglect one must start at the earliest point in which such can occur. This first point is infancy. During infancy, the child is most vulnerable due to its dependency on the mother...
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...Child Abuse and its Long Term Effects Franklin Mosley Christian Counseling 301 B02-LUO Abstract Child abuse is present in our society, in the United States and throughout the world. This paper briefly examines various issues surrounding child abuse and its long term effect upon the development of the abused. The goal of this paper is to underscore the fact that child abuse is prevalent and that help and treatment can be administered to both the abused and the abuser to end the crippling cycle of abuse in homes. Child Abuse and its Long Term Effects Child abuse is present in our society, in the United States and throughout the world. This paper briefly examines various issues surrounding child abuse and its long term effect upon the development of the abused. The goal of this paper is to underscore the fact that child abuse is prevalent and that help and treatment can be administered to both the abused and the abuser to end the crippling cycle of abuse in homes. The categorizing of types of abuse varies from country to country and therefore empirical statistics are very hard to establish. Definitions of child abuse also vary greatly, not only world-wide but also between states. The Federal government offers guidelines for states. Federal legislation provides guidance to States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. Note that these guidelines are classified as minimum standards. The Department of Health and...
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...Child Abuse and Its Correlation to Suicide May 1, 2014 Psychology Final Paper Mrs. Bailey Topic: Child Abuse and its correlation to suicide Introduction: (partial) The exploration into the relationship between child abuse and suicide. Child abuse has many psychological effects on a victim. These effects can accumulate leading to a person exposed to this to try to take the pain away. Ending their life, ends the pain. Paragraph 1: Main Idea All bad things that come out of abuse: It is hard to determine how each thing separately affects a child, but child abuse has been linked to physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences. A scary thing about that is that sometimes there is a snowball effect with these consequences. Examples: cognitive delay and have lower IQ scores, language difficulties, neonatal challenges, personality disorder, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders (Psychological Consequences). Paragraph 2: Main Idea Many studies have shown the relationship between child abuse and suicide. Not all suicide attempts are from people who were abused but there is a strong correlation (Dube, S., Anda, R., Felitti, V.). Go specifically in detail about how child abuse leads to suicide. Paragraph 3: Main Idea Who is most at risk? Repeated abuse was generally more strongly associated with suicide attempts than a single occurrence of abuse. Furthermore, sexual abuse by an immediate family member (such as a father, stepfather...
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...The Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Anne A. Student CHF1500 Human Development Professor Day Summer Semester 2010 Abstract When I was five years old, I was sexually abused by a friend of my mother’s, the abuse continued for about a year. The day my sixteen year old brother heard what had been happening he confronted the perpetrator. During their argument my brother was brutally murdered. I have always felt a sense of guilt for his death. Additionally, I have always wondered if there was a connection between the sexual abuse I suffered as a child, the other traumatic events I experienced and the thought patterns and actions I used throughout my childhood and adolescence. Sadly, child sexual abuse (CSA) is prevalent in all societies, cultures, and occurs in every socioeconomic status, it knows no boundaries. Experts agree that experiencing this type of abuse during such a pivotal point in development can have detrimental effects on a child’s psyche. What are the common results of CSA and why do some survivors seem to be affected more deeply than others? What are the ramifications as they grow into adulthood? And do the coping strategies survivors use, create a possibility of further abuse? These are the questions researchers have been asking for years. My goal through the examination of this research is to discover the different implications of CSA so that I can completely understand myself; and as a prospective educator, I will be fully equipped with the knowledge needed...
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...annotated bibliography whether there is a link between child sexual abuse and later sexual exploitation and reviews the literature on prevention strategies and effective interventions in child sexual abuse services. It shows that children are sexually exploited in other ways through the Internet. It focuses on Barnardo's response to the problem of sexual exploitation and sets it in both a historical and a contemporary context. It provides factors that influence police conceptualizations of girls involved in prostitution in six U.S. cities and if the children are sexual exploitation victims or delinquents. It explains that sexually exploited children are vulnerable to this type of abuse. It explains that sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) as one of the most destructive forms of child abuse. It explains the international sexual trafficking of women and children. It includes data on the amount of women and children that are being trafficked and experiencing sexual exploitation. It includes a dissertation that includes an empirical study and a quantitative study. This study is the first of its kind to describe a sample of commercially, sexually exploited children in foster care. Empirical Peer Reviewed Articles Barnitz, Laura. (2001). Effectively responding to the commercial sexual exploitation of children: A comprehensive approach to prevention, protection, and reintegration services. Child Welfare: Journal of Policy, Practice, and Program, Vol...
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...* * Child Molestation and Homosexuality Ann Landers used to proclaim that the statement “Homosexuals are more inclined to molest children sexually than heterosexuals” is false.1 The American Psychological Association sponsored a work asserting: “Recognized researchers in the field on child abuse,… almost unanimously concur that homosexual people are actually less likely to approach children sexually.”2 Why is it, then, that we read about sex between boys and men in every newspaper? Does it merely reflect sensationalist journalism? We know that heterosexual molestation also occurs. But since there are so many more heterosexuals than homosexuals, which kind of child molestation — homosexual or heterosexual — is proportionately more common? The Scientific Evidence Three kinds of scientific evidence point to the proportion of homosexual molestation: 1) survey reports of molestation in the general population, 2) surveys of those caught and convicted of molestation, and 3) what homosexuals themselves have reported. These three lines of evidence suggest that the 1%-to-3% of adults who practice homosexuality3account for between a fifth and a third of all child molestation. Reports of Molestation by the General Population In 1983, a probability survey of the sexual experiences of 4,340 adults in five U.S. cities found that about 3% of men and 7% of women reported sexual involvement with a man before the age of 13 (i.e., 30% was homosexual).4 In 1983-84, a random survey...
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...Identifying the types of sexual offenders Sexual offenders are a major problem in today’s society. There has been an increasingly amount of research done in order to fully understand, and identify the types of sexual offenders. Researchers are trying to focus on finding types of treatments that could help sexual offenders. Since there are a lot of different types of offenders, building a treatment program is seen as a difficult task. Sexual offenders vary in terms of their characteristics, and their reasoning behind their acts. They are viewed as a heterogeneous group; which means that their types vary according to their characteristics. In order to help keep our society safe, it is important for us to understand the reason as to why sexual offenders commit the acts that they do. It is also important to understand the different types of treatments offered to sexual offenders, and if it reduces any risks of recidivism. This research paper will demonstrate ten different articles with ten very different analysis as to why sexual offenders offend, and what kind of treatment can be offered in order to reduce the chance of recidivism. Types of sexual offenders In order to fully understand this paper we first have to identify, and explain each typology of sexual offenders. What is a sexual offender? A basic definition of a sexual offender is someone who commits a sexual crime against someone. According to the encyclopedia of social and behavioural sciences “Sex offenders force...
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...Assessment 2 ESSAY Tutor: Patricia Aloi Student number: 9889000. 03 June 2013 A little girl was two when the physical and sexual abuse commenced at her day care centre in Victoria, Australia. The abuse carried on until she turned four and was perpetrated by a fellow female class mate several months older than her. The victim suffered beatings, being strangled and forced to undress during the yearlong abuse. Sexual assault was perpetrated which included being licked on her body and face as well as having objects used during her ordeal. Severe separation anxiety, nightmares, low self-esteem, difficulty learning and concentrating are regular emotions and reactions experienced by the victim as reported by her mother. A psychologist have examined the victim and found that she is experiencing extremely high anxiety levels. Due to the age of the alleged attacker the police did not commence an investigation. Research into peer to peer sexual violence has been deficient and there is no clear evidence to determine the prevalence of sexual assault in day care centres or schools. Child sexual abuse is defined as abuse that take place when an “adult, stronger child or adolescent uses his or her power or authority to involve a child in sexual activity. Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional”. It is clear by the description of events that sexual abuse occurred. Department of Communities, (2013), www.communities.qld.gov.au/childsafety. Three theories will be discussed explaining...
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...of Childhood Sexual Abuse Shobila Kaligounder Marymount University Introduction As per UNICEF’s (2014) definition, sexual violence against children comprises any sexual activities imposed by an adult on a child against which the child is entitled to protection by criminal law. This includes: (a) The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful or psychologically harmful sexual activity; (b) The use of children in commercial sexual exploitation; (c) The use of children in audio or visual images of child sexual abuse; and (d) Child prostitution, sexual slavery, sexual exploitation in travel and tourism, trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation (within and between countries), sale of children for sexual purposes and forced marriage. Sexual activities are also considered as abuse when committed against a child by another child if the offender is significantly older than the victim or uses power, threat or other means of pressure. Consensual sexual activities between children are not considered as sexual abuse if the children are older than the age limit defined by the State Party. In spite of a clear definition for child sexual abuse violence in the lives of children is so real and as an international community we do very little to protect them. There is also a dearth of data to prove the prevalence of violence due to the hidden nature of the abuse and gives a false notion that it is a rare occurrence. Children are vulnerable to sexual victimization...
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...Abstract This paper will provide a definition and history of victimology as well as give examples of real life victims. Second, this paper will discuss how victimology is different from criminology, sociology and psychology. This paper will also discuss hate crimes, the first safe house for battered women, children’s rights groups. Finally, this paper will also discuss organizations that provide advocacy for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and homicides. Introduction to Victimology Victimology is the study of victims of crime and the interactions between the victim and the perpetrator (victimology, 2006). Victimology is to investigate the victims role in the commission of crimes and sometimes the psychological effect those crimes have on the victims (victimology, 2007). Today’s criminal justice system is a fairly new appearance, in the middle ages victims themselves were responsible for dealing with criminals on their own as there were no authorities to enforce the law. Murder has always been unacceptable behavior, but it was always up to the victims or their survivors to determine the course of action to be taken against the person committing the crime. In 2200 B.C.E. was when Law of Moses, the Code of Hammurabi and Roman law all consisted of elements to individual responsibility for harms committed against others (Doerner & Lab, 2008). It was until the 1940’s that the criminal justice system decided to not only focus their time in...
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...TITLE OF THE ESSAY : Child Labour : The Abuse of Girl Child * Siddharth Sharma (2ND YEAR B.A.LLB STUDENT AT NLIU, BHOPAL) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. WHY A GIRL CHILD GETS MORE VICTIMIZED? 3. SEXUAL ABUSE AND CHILD LABOUR? 4. DO WE HAVE A SOLUTION? INTRODUCTION “Born to parents who themselves were uneducated child workers, many child worker are forced to continue a tradition that leaves them chained to a life of poverty” Child labour violates a nation’s minimum age laws, threatens children’s physical, mental, or emotional well-being, involves intolerable abuse, such as child slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor, or illicit activities, prevents children from going to school and above all, uses children to undermine labor standards. In this regard The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act was enacted in 1986. The constitution of India also recognizes the right of children and safeguards their right to survival, protection and development. Article 14 of the constitution bestows right to equality. Article 15(3) empowers state to make special provision in favour of children. Article 23 prohibits traffic in human being. Article 14 prohibits employment of children below 14 years in any factory or mine or hazardous occupation. Article 39 prohibits abuse and exploitation. Article 45 provides compulsory education up to 14 years. India has recently finally left the company of seven other countries that still legally permit...
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...The Effects of Child Abuse: Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy MiChelle Cochran Concordia University St. Paul College of Education and Science Forensic Mental Health 510 Family Violence PTSD and Trauma Cohort 401 Assignment Six Families of children with disabilities have an added burden of providing protection to their children from various types of abuse or neglect. Although all children have the same risk of abuse at the early infancy ages, the risk increases for the disabled as they age. National data indicates that children labeled as disabled are two times more likely to experience abuse and neglect. Wallace and Roberson (2014) state that individuals with developmental disabilities are affected by violence differently than the general population and may experience violence levels up to five times higher than the general population. Other studies have indicated that 60% of children with developmental disabilities and impairments experience some form of abuse and neglect. Mandell et al. (2005) point out that these estimates may be grossly underestimated, as sometimes children with disabilities suffer from cognitive and/or verbal deficits, which prevent them from reporting the abuse. Sexual victimization tends to be the most prevalent form of abuse committed against the developmental disabled. Sorensen (2002) estimates anywhere from 4 times to 10 times higher because the victims may be repeatedly abused by the same abuser. One reason that the rate is only an estimate is...
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...Child abuse Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment or neglect of a child or children. Child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child. Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse. Different jurisdictions have developed their own definitions of what constitutes child abuse for the purposes of removing a child from his/her family and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. According to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, child abuse is "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm". Types Child abuse can take several forms: The four main types are physical, sexual, psychological, and neglect. There are many effects of child neglect, such as children not being able to interact with other children around them. The continuous refusal of a child's basic needs is considered chronic neglect. Physical abuse Physical abuse involves physical aggression directed at a child by an adult. Most nations with child-abuse laws consider the deliberate infliction of...
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