It is unfortunate that child abuse remains to be one of the leading problems globally, including both developed and developing nations. Millions of children undergo child abuse annually across the world by and this inhumane act is perpetuated by parents and guardians who are supposed to protect the young generations. Child abuse is a major concern because of its many cumulative adverse impacts in the lives of children, and its effects can go along up to adulthood. A significant number of children who have gone through child abuse are most likely to develop developmental trauma disorders that that can affect their adulthood. Many people tend to blame parents for child abuse because they are the main perpetrators of the act. However, sometimes parents are subjected to a vulnerable situation or conditions that make child abuse inevitable (Sue, 2014). Even though parents are to be blamed, lack of parenting skills and poverty make them abuse and neglect their children.
In many cases, no parent would like to subject his or her child to any form of abuse. Parenting is not an easy task, and many challenges characterize it. A substantial number of parents do not have enough knowledge and skills on how to take care of their children, including their development. As a result, they are not able to choose the most appropriate parenting models for their children (Sue, 2014). Also, parenting is associated with a lot of stress, especially in a case where a parent does not know how to function well as a parent. Thus, with the inability to function as a parent and to cope with the additional stress of taking care of a child, many parents resort to child abuse. Lack of parenting skills, therefore, makes many parents vulnerable while others undergo a lot of stress or anxiety. Consequently, based on the findings of the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, the majority of parents who abuse their children are in the younger category (Sue, 2014). Many young parents lack parenting skills, making them abuse their children, especially when they feel stressed and vulnerable. Hence, parenting education can help in reducing the rate of child abuse significantly.
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Apart from the lack of parenting skills, poverty is another factor contributing to the high rate of child abuse in many countries. Many studies have found that it is the major predictor of child abuse in society. For instance, findings of a study that was conducted by Sue (2014) revealed that unemployed parents are twice more likely to abuse their children when compared to their employed counterparts. The same study found that children from low socioeconomic status are five times more likely to be subject to child abuse compared to those from high socioeconomic status (Sue, 2014). Parents who live in poverty undergo a lot of stress, which increases the likelihood of child abuse. Poverty can make parents vulnerable, especially when they are not able to provide for the needs of their children. Parental stress, which is linked to poverty can force parents to abuse or neglect their children.
Besides, poverty causes child abuse because it pushes parents to consume a lot of alcohol and drugs. A significant number of people who are drug addicts come from poor backgrounds. Social suffering facilitates the desire to take drugs as a way of coping with pain and hopelessness (Bunting et al ., 2018). At the same time, parents who abuse drugs are likely to abuse their children, as they are not able to think straight. Also, substance abuse sometimes leads to excessive aggression, resulting in child abuse ( Galvão et al ., 2018) . Thus, poverty may be the leading cause of child abuse in society.
However, according to the study that was one by Goldsmiths University, child abuse is common in rich households just like in poor families (BBC News, 2018). Many rich people subject their children to sexual exploitation and emotional abuse. Unfortunately, as in the case of poor parents, child abuse among rich people is always ignored. At the same time, a significant number of rich parents use their influence to interfere with the investigation about child abuse. Consequently, people have developed a common perception that child abuse only happens in poor and dysfunctional families. Nonetheless, poor parents are still leading in child abuse, especially based on the available evidence.
In conclusion, poor parenting and poverty make many parents vulnerable, and they may end up abusing their children unknowingly or unconsciously. Lack of parenting skills can result in parental stress, leading to child abuse. At the same time, the inability to address the need for a child can make parents suffer from stress and anxiety, which may end up into child abuse. Child abuse is also linked to substance abuse that is also associated with poverty. Therefore, although parents should always take the blame for child abuse, they undergo a lot of challenges that can facilitate child abuse. Nevertheless, poverty should never be used as an excuse for child abuse because even rich parents abuse their children. Can parental education and socioeconomic support help in reducing child abuse?
References
BBC News. (2018, May 14). Rich families use 'privilege to opt out' of child services. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-44084298
Bunting, L., Davidson, G., McCartan, C., Hanratty, J., Bywaters, P., Mason, W., & Steils, N. (2018). The association between child maltreatment and adult poverty – A systematic review of longitudinal research . Child Abuse & Neglect, 77(1), 121–133.
Galvão, A. E. O., Saavedra, L., & Cameira, M. (2018). Economic and sociocultural poverty in drug abuse: from individual to sociopolitical responsibility. Health and Society, 27(1) , 820-833.
Sue, M. (2014). What Causes Child Abuse? Citizens Identify Causes of Child Abuse and Suggest Prevention Strategies. Journal of Sociology and Social Work , 2(1), 283-301.
