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Specific Negative Effects
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Overall, much research draws links between overwhelming trauma in childhood and later problems in adulthood that may be emotional, psychological or mental health related (see symptoms/examples below).
However, not all problems in adulthood result from childhood abuse and assessment is necessary.
Adults may suffer from symptoms such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, addiction or substance abuse problems, dissociation, anger, impaired relationships, sleep disturbance (nightmares), suicidal ideas or behaviour, eating disorders, sexual problems, self-harm behaviours, and significant memory gaps about childhood (amnesia) for example.
Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are also common due partly to the fact that many individuals abused in childhood continue to be revictimized through life.
Themes can include:
Self blame/shame; fear of intimacy; sexuality issues or confusion; distrust of others; a sense of grief/loss; and shame/humiliation for example.
Men in particular may also:
- Have a tendency towards aggressive, hostile, and antisocial behaviours;
- Be more self-destructive;
- Feel isolated or alienated;
- Express masculinity or homosexuality issues;
- And possibly feel homophobic (particularly in the case of child sexual abuse)
As well as any of the above symptoms.
Understanding current symptoms as adaptations
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Many adults do not identify that some symptoms and behaviours may be understood as adaptations or coping mechanisms originally learnt to manage early trauma. For this reason, it is important that individuals gradually develop self-compassion, understanding and acceptance of all difficulties affecting them in the context of their past as they develop new coping skills and strategies that are more positive. Counselling can assist with this.
Factors research has shown to influence the effects of child abuse:
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- Age of the child when the abuse happened. Different effects are associated with different developmental periods in childhood.
- Who committed the abuse. Effects are generally worse when it was a parent, step-parent or trusted adult than a stranger.
- Whether the child told anyone, and if so, the person's response. Doubting, ignoring, blaming and shaming responses can be extremely harmful - in some cases even more than the abuse itself.
- Whether or not violence was involved, and if so, how severe.
- How long the abuse went on.
Additional factors that are difficult to research or may differ in significance for different people:
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- Whether the abuse involved deliberately humiliating the child.
- Whether the child had loving family members, and/or knew that someone loved her or him. Or whether the child had some good relationships - with siblings, friends, teachers, coaches, etc.
- Whether the child had relationships in which bad feelings were acceptable, and could be expressed safely.
Some of these factors are about how severe the abuse was, and some are about the situation or the context of the abuse and the child's reactions. Both types of factors are extremely important.
A great deal of research has been conducted, and continues to be conducted, on how such factors determine outcomes for those abused in childhood. Factors that increase the likelihood of negative outcomes have been referred to as "risk factors," and ones that decrease the likelihood of negative outcomes as "protective factors."
The long term impact of child abuse is different for everyone
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Each person and his/her experience are unique and factors influencing the effects or impact of abuse will vary also.
Further information about the above topics is available via the web, published journal articles and books. Keep in mind the complex nature of childhood abuse as you read any information.
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