Introduction
It is important to note that child abuse is a major societal problem with a wide range of underlying conditions and influencing factors, which shape the interactions between parents or guardians and children. To properly understand the given issue, one needs to be able to comprehend the overall scope of child abuse as well as the key theoretical frameworks, which explain such behaviors.
Child Abuse and Violence
Child exposure to home violence as well as child abuse is highly intertwined with unhealthy social behaviors, which take place at the most intimate circles of family units. The prime victims are children being maltreated by their parents or guardians due to a number of issues, which still do not provide justifications for such behavior. The ramifications of child abuse can manifest themselves from mild emotional scars to deeply severe mental problems and even suicide (Schonfelder et al., 2021). In addition, the impact of child abuse is more influential and traumatizing since it takes place during the most vulnerable phases of human development.
Commonality of the Problem
One of the most disturbing and troublesome aspects of child abuse is rooted in the fact that it is highly common. According to the report from the World Health Organization or WHO, it is stated that “up to one billion children and adolescents (between the ages of 2 and 17 years) have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, a sobering statistic that emphasizes the scope of this major public health issue” (Schonfelder et al., 2021, p. 2). Even more problematic element is the outcome, where approximately 800000 suicide take place each year directly due to child abuse and exposure to violence (Schonfelder et al., 2021). Therefore, the problem can be categorized as a widespread one, which puts it in a category of global social issues.
Theoretical Frameworks
It should be noted that there are a number of theoretical frameworks, which attempt to provide a comprehensive explanation for the occurrence of child abuse. For example, the theory of the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence or Social Learning Theory states that child abuse is a hereditary behavior pattern, where children, who were exposed to violence and maltreatment themselves, are more likely to exhibit such behavior on their offspring (Robinson & Breaux, 2019). In other words, a child is abused primarily due to the effects of abuse experienced by an abuser, where one learns abusive parenting styles and repeats them to the next generation. Another theory is the Three-Factor Theory, which claims that child abuse is a result of the presence of three determinants, such as high parental hostility, low parental inhibition, and focus of parental aggression on a child (Robinson & Breaux, 2019). In other words, child abuse can only take place when all three factors are present, and thus, preventative measures should be aimed at eliminating one or more of these catalyzers.
Problem-Related Changes
Although children’s exposure to violence at home has become a more commonly known problem, with a multitude of efforts being done on raising awareness and taking policy-based actions, the issue is still prevalent. In other words, throughout the past decade, child abuse rates have not improved substantially.
Conclusion
In conclusion, child abuse and exposure to domestic violence is a widespread global problem with severe implications on children’s development, which are manifested in emotional and physical damages, such as trauma and mental disorders.
References
Robinson, T., & Breaux, M. (2019). Theoretical frameworks for understanding child maltreatment [PDF document].
Schonfelder, A., Rath, D., Forkmann, T., Paashaus, L., Lucht, L., Teismann, T., … Glaesmer, H. (2021). Child abuse and suicidality in the context of the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide: A network analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1, 1-18.