Child abuse can have many causes and many lasting outcomes. Because children who are abused can suffer socially and academically, and the effects of abuse last a lifetime, they often become abusive adults, it is important to recognize the causes and means of preventing child abuse.
Learned Behavior
The National Council on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence recognizes learned behavior as a contributing factor for the behavior of batterers and abusers. Adults who were raised by abusive or neglectful parents often grow up believing that this was a normal, natural way to raise children. In some cases, the abuse or neglect you endured during your formative years can continue to have a subconscious influence over your actions as an adult and a parent. Under more favorable conditions, you can be shown that an abusive environment is not healthful, and that your own behavior as a parent can be changed to prevent passing unwanted learned behaviors on to your children.
Mental Illness
Mental illness can cause an individual to become abusive. Depression can cause you to become distant, narcissistic and emotionally abusive. You can also become neglectful of your children's needs. Other mental illness can make you prone to abusive behavior. The American Journal of Psychiatry notes specific relationships between mental illnesses such as dissociation and multiple types of child abuse. If you suffer from a dissociative disorder, you become either unaware or unable to acknowledge your actions' effects on others.
Inadequate Parenting Skills
Help Guide points out the importance of parenting skills in preventing child abuse. A common type of abuse associating with this issue is child neglect. You may fail to provide enough food or nutritious meals for your children. You might keep your home in a dangerously unsanitary state. You might affect your child's emotional development by ignoring or avoiding her socially when at home. These types of neglect can cause your child to develop problems regulating emotions, trusting others or forming relationships for the rest of her life.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Help Guide also lists alcohol and other drugs as a cause of child abuse. The further under the influence of mood-altering substances you fall, the less judgment and self-control you retain. If, as is the case with some alcoholics, you frequently experience blackouts while intoxicated, you might become abusive while drunk and not even remember it when sober. Drug addiction can also lead to many forms of neglect, as the desire to obtain drugs overcomes your desire to provide food and a healthful environment for your children.
References
- HelpGuide.org: Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse
- American Journal of Psychiatry: Relationship Between Dissociation, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Childhood Physical Abuse, and Mental Illness in a general Population Sample
- National Council on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence: Spouse/Partner Abuse Information
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