Many child advocates believe that abuse of children has risen markedly during the lockdown. Lockdowns create an environment that is conducive to child abuse. The family is at home together all the time, parents have to deal with serious financial problems, and all of the family members have stress related to the lockdown and possibly, getting COVID-19. Lack of community involvement is another major risk factor for children. Research shows that communities with less social cohesion have higher rates of child abuse.
Lockdowns also prevent people from engaging in activities that decrease the risk of child abuse. For instance, alcoholics and drug addicts are not receiving support for substance abuse, and potential child abusers are no longer able to relax by socializing with their friends and enjoying their hobbies.
“Violence against children has always been pervasive, and now things could be getting much worse,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Lockdowns, school closures and movement restrictions have left far too many children stuck with their abusers, without the safe space that school would normally offer.”
Reporting of child abuse has varied widely by location since the lockdown began. In some places, reports of child abuse has increased considerably, while in other locations, there has been a major decrease. Child abuse advocates believe that abuse has probably increased everywhere, however. Most reporting of child abuse is done by mandated reporters such as teachers and doctors, who are legally required to report suspected cases. Tragically, with children confined to the home, they are not seen by adults outside their family, yet alone mandated reporters, so abuse is far less likely to be discovered or reported.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the physical distancing measures imposed in response to it have greatly increased the risk of intra-family violence and online abuse. School closures have impacted more than 1.5 billion children and youth. Movement restrictions, loss of income, isolation, and overcrowding have heightened levels of stress and anxiety in parents, caregivers and children, and cut families and individuals off from their usual sources of support.
Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020, WHO
Child abuse is a horrible thing in itself. Unfortunately, it also has long-term detrimental effects. Someone who was abused as a child has an elevated risk for criminal behavior, substance abuse, mental health issues, suicide, relationship problems, and even poor physical health. A study which used data from the US National Co-morbidity Survey found that adults with depression were 2.5 times more likely to have suffered abuse as a child.
Victimization in childhood also increases the risk of victimization in adulthood, particularly for females. An International Violence Against Women Survey discovered that Australian females who had experienced physical or sexual abuse as a child were 67% more likely to have experienced violence as an adult. Abusive behavior can also be passed down the generations. Approximately one third of child victims become abusers themselves as adults.
In order to protect children from all sorts of abuse at the hands of adults, it is critical that the children be allowed to attend school and their parents allowed to go to work. The less time families spend in the lockdown pressure cooker, the better long-term outcomes will be seen for children.
