Abuse refers to physical, emotional, sexual, economic, or psychological harm that arises from an imbalance of power and control in relationships between people. Abuse can threaten the physical, emotional, or economic security of the victims and can negatively impact their lives.
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The effects of abuse can cause significant physical and emotional harm to victims. Victims may experience emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, fear, shame, guilt, or lack of self-confidence. Additionally, as seen in cases of sexual abuse, physical injuries can also occur.
The effects of abuse can have long-term impacts on the victims' lives and can lead to difficulties in areas such as work, family, and social relationships. However, victims can overcome these effects with support and therapy.
Abuse and Its Symptoms
Physical force or power, when used intentionally to cause physical harm to oneself, others, a group, or a community, and resulting in increased likelihood of physical injury, psychological harm, death, developmental issues, or deprivation, is considered abuse. (World Health Organization, 2002)
Violence is behavior or an approach that leads to individuals being injured, subdued, angered, or emotionally pressured.
Domestic Violence
“The endangerment of an individual’s life, body, psychological integrity, or freedom within the family by using force or coercion.”
Violence Against Women
“Any act of violence based on gender that causes or could cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, in both private and public life.” (UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 1992)
Types of Violence Women Experience in the Family
- 1. Neglect, which means insufficient physical and emotional care,
- 2. Emotional-psychological violence, meaning lack of understanding, love, and sympathy,
- 3. Verbal violence consisting of threats, humiliation, belittling, intimidation, harassment, etc.,
- 4. Physical violence such as pushing, slapping, injuring, hitting, burning, etc.,
- 5. Sexual violence, including incest, rape, and forcing prostitution, as a higher form of physical violence.
The Psychological Conditions of Women Who Experience Violence
- Extreme fear
- Timidity
- Silence and shyness
- Insomnia, fatigue
- Overreaction to sounds
- Dizziness, inability to stand
- Forgetfulness
- Anger outbursts
- Self-blame
- Inability to plan for the future
- Insecurity
- Inability to make eye contact while speaking
- Frequent crying spells
- Difficulty forming coherent sentences
Child Abuse
Physical abuse is the most recognized form of abuse and is defined as “any behavior that results in physical trauma or injuries without being accidental.”
Physical abuse injuries include pinching, biting, hitting, kicking, burning, attempting to suffocate by closing the mouth, violently shaking, or any other way of causing harm to the child’s body.
Some of these injuries may occur accidentally while the child is playing; however, the location and frequency of the injuries can raise suspicion of physical abuse.
It is also known that emotional trauma caused by physical abuse does not heal as quickly as physical injuries. The effects of emotional damage often become evident when many children who have been physically abused later become abusive parents themselves.
Consequences of Physical Abuse
Short-Term Effects: Bruises, fractures
Long-Term Effects:
Low self-esteem: It is observed that most children who experience physical abuse have low or weak self-esteem. These children may refuse to engage in social activities with their peers and may experience feelings of helplessness or hopelessness that could lead to self-destructive behavior.
Aggressive, destructive, and sometimes illegal behaviors: Violent behaviors, like other behaviors, are learned. Children who witness or experience domestic violence are highly likely to adopt these behaviors as a means of problem-solving or conflict resolution.
Threats, aggressive behavior toward themselves and others, carrying sharp objects...
Anger and Revenge Feelings
They may have difficulty expressing their emotions and themselves; they may have unrealistic expectations in relationships.
Passive or withdrawal behaviors: Some children who are physically abused may adopt passive or withdrawn behaviors in meeting their needs and dealing with violence. If they continue to adopt this victim role as adults, they may face significant interpersonal relationship problems.
Anxiety, fear, nightmares, running away from home, unhappiness or other depression symptoms
School problems and failure: Children who experience or are exposed to violence at home tend to use physical aggression to solve problems at school. These children often have low academic success, attention deficit problems, and engage in school-avoidance behaviors.
Substance abuse: Alcohol or other substance dependencies may be used as a way to escape from the violence. This possibility is further strengthened if the parents also have substance abuse issues.
Family Characteristics in Child Physical Abuse
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Economic hardship
- Death or divorce of a partner
- Physical or mental illness in the family
- Having too many children
In families where sexual abuse is common; divorce, violence, alcohol and substance use, sexual issues, social isolation, dominant parents who demand unconditional obedience, and role conflicts.
In Children Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse:
- Anxiety disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Desire to sleep with their clothes on
- Neglect of personal hygiene
- Stomach pain or gynecological complaints
- Physical complaints, fear responses
