6.4 Child Abuse
Children are some of the most defenseless victims of abuse. In 2010 alone, there were over 3.3 million reports of child abuse, involving around 5.9 million children (Child Help 2011). Three-fifths of these reports are made by professionals like teachers, law enforcement personnel, and social services staff, while the remaining reports come from anonymous sources, relatives, parents, friends, and neighbors.
Child abuse can take various forms, with neglect being the most prevalent (78.3 percent), followed by physical abuse (10.8 percent), sexual abuse (7.6 percent), psychological maltreatment (7.6 percent), and medical neglect (2.4 percent) (Child Help, 2011). Some children endure multiple forms of abuse simultaneously. Parents account for the majority of perpetrators (81.2 percent), while other relatives make up 6.2 percent.
Among victims, infants (children less than one year old) are the most vulnerable, with an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 infants. This age group is particularly susceptible to neglect due to their complete dependence on caregivers for care. While some instances of neglect may not be intentional, factors like cultural norms, community standards of care, and poverty can contribute to unsafe levels of neglect. In cases where parents fail to utilize available public or private services despite needing assistance, child welfare services may step in (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2011).
Infants are frequently victims of physical abuse, especially through violent shaking. This form of abuse is known as shaken-baby syndrome, characterized by a set of medical symptoms such as brain swelling and retinal hemorrhage resulting from forcefully shaking or causing impact to an infant’s head. The primary trigger for shaking is often a baby’s cry. Parents, overwhelmed by their inability to comfort the baby, may resort to violent shaking out of frustration. Other stressors like economic hardships, unemployment, and dissatisfaction with parental responsibilities can also contribute to this type of abuse. While there’s no official central registry for shaken-baby syndrome statistics, it’s estimated that each year, around 1,400 babies suffer serious injury or die from being shaken (Barr 2007).
Child abuse is prevalent across all socioeconomic and educational backgrounds and cuts across ethnic and cultural boundaries. Just as child abuse often stems from the pressures experienced by parents, including financial strain, parents who demonstrate resilience to these pressures are less likely to engage in abusive behaviors (Samuels 2011). Young parents, especially teenagers, often struggle more to cope with these pressures, particularly the challenges of new parenthood. Teenage mothers, in particular, are more prone to abusing their children compared to older mothers. Conversely, as parents age, the likelihood of abuse decreases. Children born to mothers aged fifteen or younger face double the risk of abuse or neglect by the age of five compared to those born to mothers aged twenty to twenty-one (George and Lee 1997).
Physical abuse in children can take various forms, such as beating, kicking, throwing, choking, hitting with objects, burning, or other methods. Even if the parent or caregiver did not intend harm, any injury inflicted by such behavior is considered abuse. However, physical contact characterized as discipline, like spanking, is not classified as abuse as long as it doesn’t result in injury (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2019).
The use of physical discipline, commonly known as corporal punishment, is a contentious issue in the United States today. While some parents believe it’s an effective way to address misbehavior, others view it as a form of abuse. According to an ABC News poll, 65 percent of respondents approve of spanking, and 50 percent admitted to occasionally spanking their child.
Cultural and educational background can influence attitudes towards physical punishment. Those living in the South are more likely to spank their children than those in other regions. Similarly, individuals without a college education are also more inclined to use spanking as a form of discipline (Gillespie 2018). Although 23 states officially permit spanking in the school system, many parents may object, and school officials must adhere to strict guidelines when administering such punishment (Gillespie 2018). Research indicates that spanking is not an effective disciplinary method and may lead to increased aggression in the child, particularly if they are spanked at a young age (Berlin 2009).
Drug and alcohol use significantly contribute to child abuse. Children raised by substance abusers face a threefold higher risk of physical abuse and four times higher likelihood of neglect compared to other children (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2019). Other factors increasing the risk of child abuse include social isolation, depression, low parental education, and a history of mistreatment during childhood. Alarmingly, around 30 percent of abused children go on to mistreat their own children later in life (Oliveros and Kaufman 2011).
The repercussions of child abuse extend to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the child. A large proportion of abused children experience injuries, poor health, and mental instability, with 80 percent meeting the criteria for one or more psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, or suicidal tendencies by age twenty-one. Additionally, abused children often struggle with cognitive and social difficulties. While not all victims exhibit behavioral issues, a majority do. Adolescents who were abused are 25 percent more likely to face challenges such as poor academic performance, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, delinquency, and engaging in risky sexual behaviors that increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (Child Welfare Information Gateway 2006). These adverse outcomes not only impact the individual child and family but also burden healthcare, education, and criminal justice systems, making child abuse a societal issue that affects society as a whole.
Predatory phishing
According to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (2024), cyber sexual abuse of children and teens includes various harmful activities that exploit minors’ online presence and digital interactions. Child sexual exploitation/abuse material (CSEM or CSAM) refers to visual depictions of individuals 18 years or younger who are nude, partially nude, or engaged in sexual conduct, even if those individuals are now adults. The dangers of predatory phishing also play a significant role in this abuse, where predators deceive minors into providing personal information or compromising images, which are then used for blackmail or further exploitation. This form of abuse not only infringes on the privacy and dignity of young victims but also poses severe psychological and emotional risks.
