Be aware of the impact of child abuse.
The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse
Source: Darkness to Light
Impact on the Child
Behavior and Mental Health Risks
Children who are sexually abused are significantly more likely to develop post-traumatic stress and other anxiety problems, experience dysfunction and distress in their development, have behavioral problems, and engage in higher levels of risk behavior.
Academic Difficulties
Children who are sexually abused often have academic difficulties, high absentee rates, and drop out of school.
Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Crime
Children who are sexually abused engage earlier in drug abuse and are 2 to 3 times more likely to have an alcohol use/dependence problem than non-victims. Children who are sexually abused were twice as likely to run away from home. They have a 3 to 5-fold risk of delinquency.
Teen Pregnancy
Girls who are sexually abused are twice as likely as their non-abused peers to become teen mothers.
Impact on Society
Because child abuse victims are more likely to have mental and physical health problems as they grow up, the cost to society for health care is dramatically impacted by child abuse; some experts have suggested that this cost could be as much as $9 billion annually.
The cost of teen pregnancies attributable to child sexual abuse could be as high as $2 billion annually.
Child abuse victims are at an increased risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, and experts suggest that over $1.5 billion of the annual cost for this is attributable to child sexual abuse.
These are just some of the costs.
Read more: Darkness to Light
The Impact of Child Physical Abuse
Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Children who are physically abused can develop child traumatic stress and are at risk for depression and anxiety. They may suffer from poor physical, emotional, and mental development. Research shows that physical abuse teaches children to be submissive, fearful, and/or aggressive and that hitting is a way to control other people or solve problems. It can be confusing for children when a parent, the person they depend on and love the most, hurts them in some way. Download this fact sheet to learn more.
The Impact of Child Emotional Abuse
Follow this link to our partner website to learn more.
The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse
Source: Darkness to Light
Impact on the Child
Behavior and Mental Health Risks
Children who are sexually abused are significantly more likely to develop post-traumatic stress and other anxiety problems, experience dysfunction and distress in their development, have behavioral problems, and engage in higher levels of risk behavior.
Academic Difficulties
Children who are sexually abused often have academic difficulties, high absentee rates, and drop out of school.
Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Crime
Children who are sexually abused engage earlier in drug abuse and are 2 to 3 times more likely to have an alcohol use/dependence problem than non-victims. Children who are sexually abused were twice as likely to run away from home. They have a 3 to 5-fold risk of delinquency.
Teen Pregnancy
Girls who are sexually abused are twice as likely as their non-abused peers to become teen mothers.
Impact on Society
Because child abuse victims are more likely to have mental and physical health problems as they grow up, the cost to society for health care is dramatically impacted by child abuse; some experts have suggested that this cost could be as much as $9 billion annually.
The cost of teen pregnancies attributable to child sexual abuse could be as high as $2 billion annually.
Child abuse victims are at an increased risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, and experts suggest that over $1.5 billion of the annual cost for this is attributable to child sexual abuse.
These are just some of the costs.
Read more: Darkness to Light
The Impact of Child Physical Abuse
Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Children who are physically abused can develop child traumatic stress and are at risk for depression and anxiety. They may suffer from poor physical, emotional, and mental development. Research shows that physical abuse teaches children to be submissive, fearful, and/or aggressive and that hitting is a way to control other people or solve problems. It can be confusing for children when a parent, the person they depend on and love the most, hurts them in some way. Download this fact sheet to learn more.
The Impact of Child Emotional Abuse
Follow this link to our partner website to learn more.