| Abuse can impact children in a variety of ways
and how children will be affected will depend on a range of
factors including: personality, the duration and frequency of
the abuse, who perpetrated the abuse on the child, the degree
of violence involved, and the supports the child has to draw
on.
Some of the effects on the child may include:
Effects on Physical health
- Delays in development
- Symptoms similar to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity)
- Weight loss or gain
- Trouble sleeping
Effects on Emotional Health
- Depression
- Feelings of guilt or responsibility for the abuse
- Loss of enjoyment in activities
- Helpless behaviour
- Anger or non-compliance
- Low self esteem
- Withdrawn/ passive
- Fearful, unable to trust people
Effects on Behaviour
- Regressive behaviour (behaving as if they were younger)
- Acting out poor self-control, violent behaviour
- Concentration problems
- Self destructive behaviour – hurting themselves,
using drugs or alcohol, feeling suicidal
- Do not seek comfort if distressed
- Dont show stranger anxiety (appropriate to age)
- Seek out adult attention and affection
- Taking over of parent behaviour and belief that they
are responsible for parent’s needs
- Criminal behaviour
- Disrupted sexual behaviour
- Very aggressive behaviour or very compliant behaviour
that appears to invite punishment
Effects on Relationships
- Problems making or keeping friends
- Overly compliant or non compliant
- Confusion over family roles
- Not emotionally attached to parent
Effects on Intellectual Development
- Learning problems
- Delay in speech or language
- Poorer academic performance
|
