4.4.5

Child Abuse

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Sociological Theories on Child Abuse

There are different types of child abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

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Types of child abuse

  • There are different types of child abuse:
    • Sexual abuse: when adults abuse children sexually under the age of consent (sixteen years old).
    • Physical abuse: exerting physical harm on children.
    • Emotional abuse: verbal, mental or psychological harm against children.
    • Neglect: children are deprived of food, water and warmth and may be exposed to dangerous situations.
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Psychological explanations

  • There are various psychological explanations for child abuse, such as:
    • Personality characteristics.
    • Mental health disorders, such as personality disorders.
    • External influences, including: stress, learned behaviour or previous experience of abuse.
  • Such factors are sometimes attributed as the cause of child abuse.
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Studies on child abuse

  • Womack’s study found that 31% of children are exposed to sibling abuse.
  • Bowes et al suggests that the risk of developing depression and anxiety was doubled for child victims of sibling bullying.
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Child abuse statistics

  • In March 2019, the CSEW reported that 8.5 million adults had been the victims of abuse before the age of 18.
  • According to the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW), in March 2019 52,260 children were subject to a Child Protection Plan (CPP).
  • As of March 31st 2019, 49,570 children were looked after by local authorities as a result of abuse or neglect (Office of National Statistics).

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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