Childhood Abuse A Child s Intellectual Growth And The...

Introduction Early child abuse poses threats on a child’s intellectual growth and the potential of developing psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders later on within adolescent stages. Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million people worldwide. 1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating. It is estimated that 90% of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible associations between early childhood abuse which includes, physical, emotional, sexual, verbal and psychological abuse and it’s association within adolescents who suffer from various†¦show more content†¦All 12 articles that will be further discussed are all peer reviewed and pertain closely to the topic of childhood abuse and eating disorders. In a research study conducted by Neumark-Sztainer , Mary Story, Peter J. Hanna, Trish Beuring and Michael D. Resnick ( 1999), It was noted that questions pertained to first, whether or not individuals who experienced abuse are at higher risk for disordered eating than others who have not experienced abuse and if so, whether the increased risk was due to the experienced abuse or to the overall disturbances in family dynamics and second, the level of risk in developing a disordered eating that other types of abuse may have among adolescents (Neumark- Sztainer et al., 1999) The study population included a representative sample of 9,943 Connecticut public school students in grades 7, 9, 11 who participated in a state-wide anonymous survey of adolescent health from 1995-1996. It was a 225-item comprehensive assessment of adolescent health, health behaviours, and associated risk and protective factors. After data collection, the analysis of the data was done separately for boys and girls. Sexual abuse was strongly associated with disordered eating among both girls and boys. More Boys than girls who experienced sexual abuse reported disordered eating. Physical abuse was also strongly associated with disordered eating