1. www.postersession.com
This study examines the physical and emotional impact of child
abuse in young adults. Research has indicated that child abuse
has negative consequences on a person’s overall health and
wellbeing (Sachs-Ericsson, Medley, Kendall-Tackett, and Taylor
2011). Irish and colleagues have shown that people who have
been abused as a child are more likely to have six major health
outcomes, which include general health, gastrointestinal health,
gynecological health, pain, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and
obesity (Sachs-Ericsson, et. al, 2011). There were 51 participants
in this study (21 men and 30 women). Participants completed the
Importance of Childhood Experiences in Young Adult Life Survey.
Results showed that there were no statistical significances in the
emotional and physical health amongst survivors of child abuse
and those not abused. In conclusion, more participants reported
being abused as a child than anticipated. Agenda for future
research includes a closer examination of the definition of child
abuse, the effects of child abuse, and how child abuse affects
those who aren’t as resilient.
Methods
Conclusions
r
The Physical and Emotional Impact of Child Abuse in Young Adults
Jazmyne J. Page; Dr. Ruth S. Williams
Department of Psychology, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN 37315, USA
Agenda for Future Research
Participants: A sample of convenience consisted of 51 college
students attending a private university in southeast Tennessee.
Participants were required to complete a consent form before
being given the survey. Each participant received a dessert as
incentive upon completion of their role in the study. All participants
were treated in accordance with the Ethical Principles of
Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological
Association, 2010).
Procedures: The design of this study was a non-experimental
study using survey methodology as a means of data collection.
The researcher was granted permission by a professor on
campus and used the first 15 minutes of the class to administer
the survey. An informed consent form was given to participants
prior to the survey being given.
Materials: The instrument used in this study was a modified
version of two online instruments; The Way I Feel, How Healthy
Are You?, and the Importance of Childhood Experiences in Young
Adult Life survey (ICEYAL). This instrument consisted of
questions that determined college students knowledge about child
abuse and if any college students have been child abuse
survivors. Demographics such as gender, ethnicity, and age were
self-reported by the participants in the survey. The Cronbach’s
alpha ranged from .17 to .76. This questionnaire will serve as a
pilot study.
Hypothesis
1. The results of the hypothesis test show that there is
no significant gender difference in the knowledge of
child abuse. t(49) = -.39, p=.695 (ns) (See Figure 2).
Figure 2
Research Questions
1. Out of fifty-one participants for this study 22
participants reported to be survivors of child abuse
and 29 participants reported to not have had
experienced any form of abuse as a child (See
Figure 1).
2. College students have little knowledge of child abuse
where M= 6.1 and SD = 1.47. Participants only had
on average 60% of the questions answered correctly.
A test on gender differences was conducted.
Results showed that it was not statistically significant
[t(-.39), p=.69 (ns)] (See Figure 2 also).
3. How does child abuse impact the survivor’s
academic performance and aspirations? Survivors of
child abuse have a slightly higher GPA than those
who are not abused with M = 3.41 and SD = .51.
Those who did not encounter abuse as a child had a
slightly lower GPA with M = 3.40 and SD = .37.
Results showed that it was not statistically significant
[t(.07), p=.95 (ns)].
4. Survivors of child abuse were slightly lower scores in
physical health than those who were not abused with
M = 57.54 and SD = 7.10 and for those not abused
with M = 59.83 and SD = 6.64. Results showed that it
was not statistically significant [t=-1.18, p=.24 (ns)]
(See Table 2).
5. Survivors of child abuse had slightly lower scores in
emotional health than those who were not abused
with M = 3.1 and SD= 1.85 and for those not abused
with M = 3.41 and SD = 2.11. Results showed that it
was not statistically significant [t=-.57, p=.57 (ns)]
(See Table 3).
6. There are almost no ethnic differences in the
knowledge of child abuse. One-Way ANOVA showed
that it was not statistically significant (F(4,45)= 1.74, p =
.16).
Major Findings:
1. More participants reported to be survivors of child abuse than
expected.
2. The average knowledge of child abuse amongst the participants
is approximately 60%.
3. There was no significance in physical and emotional health
amongst those who are survivors of child abuse and those who
never encountered abuse as children.
Importance of Study:
Little is known about the physical and emotional impact of child
abuse in young adults in Christian institutions. This study gives a
better understanding that a person who has been impacted by
child abuse may not be at an academic, physical or emotional
disadvantage.
Limitations:
1.Small sample size.
2. Unequal amounts of men and women participants.
3. Low Alpha (reliability) on measuring instrument.
Implications:
This study could provide information on the impact of child
abuse in young adults.
The study could provide information on the impact of child
abuse to the population currently in Adventist colleges.
It is possible that the information obtained in this study can be
used to to help better understand how child abuse impacts a
young adult physically and emotionally.
Many students had little overall knowledge on child abuse.
Introduction
Results
Logo
Abstract
Every 10 seconds, a child experiences abuse whether it be
physical, mental, emotional, or even sexual. Child abuse is rapidly
increasing throughout the world causing innocent children to fall
victim to trauma. Child abuse can damage a person both
physically and mentally. The longer a child is exposed to abuse,
the worse the mental and physical outcome is, potentially leading
to psychological disorders like PTSD, depression, and even
negative overall health such as obesity and heart problems. The
purpose of this study was to describe college students’ beliefs on
abuse and experiences with physical and emotional problems.
Knowledge of how college students view abuse is useful in helping
to recognize areas related to identification, treatment, and
prevention of child abuse. Audiences that can benefit from this
study include the scientific community (developmental
psychologists, trauma psychologists, social workers, counselors)
university officials, parents, and college students.
Hypotheses
One hypothesis guided this study:
1. There are gender differences in the perception of child abuse
among college age students.
Research Questions
Six research questions were addressed in this study:
1. How many college students report being survivors of child
abuse?
2. What do college students know about child abuse?
3. How does child abuse impact the survivor’s academic
performance and aspirations?
4. How does child abuse impact the survivor’s physical health?
5. How does child abuse impact the survivor’s emotional health?
6. Are there ethnic differences in knowledge of child abuse?
Agenda for future research includes a closer examining
in the definition of child abuse, the effects of child
abuse, comparing and contrasting the different
categories of child abuse, and how child abuse affects
those who aren’t as resilient.
Table 2
Physical Health
Child Abuse
Survivor N Mean
Std.
Deviation t Test Sig.
Section 4
Total
Abused (total
is 7-10)
22 57.55
7.10 t= -1.18
p=.24
Not Abused
(total is 1-6)
29
59.83 6.64
Child Abuse
Survivor N Mean
Std.
Deviation t Test Sig.
Section
5 Total
Abused (total is
7-10)
22 3.09 1.85 t= -.57
p=.57
Not Abused (total
is 1-6)
29 3.41 2.11
Table 3
Emotional Health
Figure 1
Frequency Percent
Valid
Percent
Cumulative
Percent
Valid 3.00 1 1.9 2.0
2.00 2 3.8 3.9
4.00 3 5.8 5.9
5.00 8 15.4 15.7
8.00 9 17.3 17.6
7.00 12 23.1 23.5
6.00 16 30.8 31.4
Total 51 98.1 100.0
Missing System 1 1.9
Total 52 100.0
Table 4
Knowledge Scores