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Impact of Physical Abuse

Effects of physical child abuse can include the immediate effects of bruises, burns, lacerations, and broken bones and also longer-term effects such as brain damage, hemorrhages, and permanent disabilities. Physical trauma and abuse can also negatively affect children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

• Impact on children
• Impact on adolescents
• Long-term consequences

Impact on children

Adverse Behavioral and Emotional Outcomes From Child Abuse and Witnessed Violence
Johnson, Kotch, Catellier, & Winsor
Child Maltreatment, 7(3), 2002
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Examines mental health outcomes for children who have witnessed violence or been physically abused.

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Impact on adolescents

Adolescent Physical Abuse: Risk for Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders
Kaplan, Pelcovitz, Salzinger, Weiner, Mandel, Lesser, & Labruna
American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(7), 1998
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Examines whether physical abuse functions as an additional risk factor for adolescent psychopathology, after controlling for other important known risk factors.

Adolescent Physical Abuse and Risk for Suicidal Behaviors
Kaplan, Pelcovitz, Salzinger, Mandel, Weiner, & Labruna
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(9), 1999
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Assesses the contribution of physical abuse to increased risk for suicidal behaviors in physically abused adolescents compared with nonabused adolescents.

Binge and Purge Behavior Among Adolescents: Associations With Sexual and Physical Abuse in a Nationally Representative Sample: The Commonwealth Fund Survey
Ackard, Neumark-Sztainer, Hannan, French, & Story
Child Abuse and Neglect, 25(6), 2001
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This study examined associations between binge and purge behavior and sexual and physical abuse among adolescents.

Physical Child Abuse and Adolescent Violent Delinquency: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Personal Relationships
Salzinger, Rosario, & Feldman
Child Maltreatment, 12(3), 2007
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Examines the role of personal relationships in reducing delinquency for adolescents who have been physically abused.

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Long-term consequences

Brief Communication: Physical Abuse of Boys and Possible Associations With Poor Adult Outcomes
Holmes & Sammel
Annals of Internal Medicine, 143, 2005
Results found childhood physical abuse was associated later in life with depression symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, legal troubles, and incarceration.

Childhood Physical Abuse, Personality, and Adult Relationship Violence: A Model of Vulnerability to Victimization
Ornduff, Kelsey, & O'Leary
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71(3), 2001
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An association between childhood physical abuse and current relationship violence was observed in a sample of 56 young adult women, suggesting that childhood physical abuse may be a unique risk factor for victimization in intimate adult relationships.

Early Physical Abuse and Later Violent Delinquency: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Lansford, Miller-Johnson, Berlin, Dodge, Bates, & Petit
Child Maltreatment, 12(3), 2007
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Studies the links between early physical abuse and violent delinquency and other socially relevant outcomes during late adolescence or early adulthood and the extent to which the child's race and gender moderate these links.

Long-Term Management of the Developmental Consequences of Child Physical Abuse
Swenson & Kolko (2000)
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Physically abused children appear to experience multiple behavioral, emotional, and cognitive impairments as a result of abuse. Long-term mental health management of the child and family is necessary.

Long-Term Medical Consequences of Physical Abuse
Wharton, Rosenberg, Sheridan, & Ryan (2000)
In Treatment of Child Abuse: Common Ground for Mental Health, Medical, and Legal Practitioners
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Examines three categories of injuries that are most likely to cause lingering medical problems for physically abused children: traumatic brain injuries, burns, and abdominal injuries.

Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Consequences of Childhood Physical Abuse: Results From a Large Population-Based Sample of Men and Women
Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 31(5), 2007
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Examine how childhood physical abuse impacts mid-life mental and physical health as well as the effect of family background and childhood adversities.

Physical Punishment, Childhood Abuse and Psychiatric Disorders
Afifi, Brownridge, Cox, & Sareen
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 30(10), 2006
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Compares the experience of physical punishment with child abuse to determine its effect on adult depression, alcohol abuse, and other psychological problems.

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	Related Information Gateway Topics Child abuse & neglect: Physical abuse Child abuse & neglect: Impact on child development Child abuse & neglect: Long-term consequences of abuse & neglect Child abuse & neglect: Child fatalities

Updated on March 1, 2010