Child Abuse Statistics

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Frequency and Related Information:
The National Longitudinal Study of Youth discovered that two thirds of mothers with children under six said they found it necessary to use corporal punishment three times per week -- i.e. Two thirds of mothers slap or hit their children an average of 150 times per year. (Strauss 1994). This does not include the number of times children are also hit by fathers.

In 1996, an estimated 3,126,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies as alleged victims of child maltreatment. Child abuse reports have grown yearly for the past 10 years.  The total number of reports nationwide have increased 45% since 1987.

In 1995, an estimated 1,215 child abuse and neglect related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 39%.

More than 3 children die every day as a result of abuse or neglect.

According to NCPCA's 1996 Annual Fifty State Survey, the deaths are due to the following:

Physical Abuse    54%
Neglect                43%

82% of these children were under age five, 42% were less than a year old.

The 1995 report by the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect states that near fatal abuse and neglect every year leaves:

• 18,000 permanently disabled children
• Tens of thousands of victims overwhelmed by lifelong psychological trauma
• Thousands of traumatized siblings and family members
• Thousands of near death survivors who, as adults continue to bear the physical and psychological scars.

The Third National Incidence Study (NIS-3) of child maltreatment released by the National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect in the fall of 1996 shows:

• The estimated number of children seriously injured by all forms of maltreatment rose from 141,700 to 565,000 -- a 299% increase.
• The estimated number of sexually abused children increased 83%
• The number of physically neglected children rose 102%
• The estimated number of emotionally neglected children rose 333%
• The estimated number of physically abused children rose 42%
• Girls are sexually abused three times more often than boys.
• Boys are at greater risk of serious injury and emotional neglect than girls.
• The incidence of fatally injured girls declined slightly, while the incidence of fatally injured boys rose.
• There is no race differences in incidence of maltreatment.

Poverty is related to incidence rates in nearly every category of maltreatment. Compared to children whose families earned $30,000 or more, children in families with annual incomes below $15,000 were:

More than 22 times more likely to be harmed

More than 44 times more likely to be neglected

Over 22 times more likely to be seriously injured

60 times more likely to die from harm

Survivors:
There are an estimated 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the U.S. today.
Long term effects of child abuse include:  (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986)

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Anger
• Hostility
• Inappropriate sexual behavior
• Poor self esteem
• Tendency toward substance abuse
• Difficulty with close relationships.

Guilt is experienced by nearly all victims. (Tsai & Wagner, 1978)

Adults who viewed domestic violence in the home as children have greater difficulty holding jobs, maintaining relationships with their peers, and have a higher risk of developing mental health disorders. (Patterson, 1992)

Abusers:
The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of whom do not report the offense. (National Institute of Mental Health, 1988)

An estimated 71% of child sex offenders are under 35 and knew the victim at least casually.
59% gain sexual access to their victims through seduction or enticement (Burgess & Groth 1984).

Stress indicators such as unrealistic expectations of a child, unemployment, and low self esteem are important characteristics of child abuse (Health and Human Services, 1993).

Approximately 60% of male survivors report at least one of their abusers to be female (Mendel 1993).

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