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[The abused child: review of the literature]
1Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo.
Insights
This review addresses child abuse, offering professionals and researchers a reference on its legal, ethical, and diagnostic challenges. It emphasizes understanding perpetrators and supporting victims, suggesting prevention and improved research.
Area of Science:
- Childhood psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Social work
Context:
- Child abuse presents significant challenges for professionals, requiring a comprehensive understanding.
- Existing literature is reviewed to provide a foundational reference for those working with abused children.
Purpose:
- To synthesize current knowledge on child abuse for professionals and researchers.
- To outline the complexities of child abuse, including legal, ethical, and diagnostic aspects.
Summary:
- The review covers the definition of child abuse, its legal and ethical dimensions, diagnostic difficulties, and psychological effects on victims.
- It explores the importance of understanding and treating perpetrators, and defines the role and qualifications of professionals assisting child abuse victims.
Impact:
- Provides a crucial reference for professionals and researchers in the field of child abuse.
- Highlights the need for improved diagnostic approaches, perpetrator treatment, and systematic research on child abuse.
- Informs the development of preventive strategies and enhances the support systems for child abuse victims.
Abstract:
Assisting abused children may cause discomfort and raise doubts. The present literature review, which includes periodicals, books and the Child's and Adolescent's Statute, was conducted to serve as reference to professionals and researchers involved with the child abuse problem. The authors introduce the subject of abuse, present its legal and ethical implications, the difficulties to diagnose it, its effects, the necessity to understand and treat its perpetrator as well as the role and background of the professionals who assist children victimized by abuse. As final considerations, the authors suggest preventive steps as well as the improvement of formal systematic research on abused children.