Editing Physical abuse

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Physical abuse
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| image           = Bullying_on_Instituto_Regional_Federico_Errázuriz_(IRFE)_in_March_5,_2007.jpg
| caption         = Boy violently slapping another boy's head
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| field           = [[Emergency medicine]]
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| differential    = Accidental injury<br>[[Self-injury]]
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'''Physical abuse''' is any intentional act causing [[injury]] or [[Physical trauma|trauma]] to another person or [[animal abuse|animal]] by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of [[domestic violence]] or [[workplace aggression]]. Alternative terms sometimes used include [[assault|physical assault]] or [[physical violence]], and may also include [[sexual abuse]]. Physical abuse may involve more than one abuser, and more than one victim.

==Forms==

Physical abuse means any non-accidental act or behavior causing [[injury]], [[Physical trauma|trauma]], or other physical [[suffering]] or [[bodily harm]]. Abusive acts toward children can often result from parents' attempts at [[child discipline]] through excessive [[corporal punishment]].<ref name=Humane>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110316155856/http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-physical-abuse.html "Child physical abuse".] American Humane Association.</ref><ref name=WebMD>Giardino, A.P.; Giardino, E.R. (12 December 2008). [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/915664-overview "Child Abuse & Neglect: Physical Abuse".] ''WebMD''.</ref>

==Causes==

A number of causes of [[Child abuse#Physical abuse|physical abuse against children]] have been identified, the most common of which, according to Mash and Wolfe, being:<ref name=Mash />
* many abusive and neglectful parents have had little exposure to positive parental models and supports.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* there is often a greater degree of stress in the family environment.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* information-processing disturbances may cause maltreating parents to misperceive or mislabel their child's behavior, which leads to inappropriate responses.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* there is often a lack of awareness or understanding the appropriate expected mental growth or development.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Effects==

Physically abused children are at risk for later interpersonal problems involving aggressive behavior, and adolescents are at a much greater risk for [[substance use disorder]]s. In addition, symptoms of depression, emotional distress, and [[suicidal ideation]] are also common features of people who have been physically abused. Studies have also shown that children with a history of physical abuse may meet [[DSM-IV-TR]] criteria for [[post traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD).<ref name=Mash>{{cite book|last=Mash|first=Eric|title=Abnormal Child Psychology|year=2010|publisher=Wadsworth Cengage Learning|location=Belmont, California|isbn=9780495506270|pages=427–463}}</ref> As many as one-third of children who experience physical abuse are also at risk to become abusive as adults.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Oliver | first1 = JE | year = 1993 | title = Intergenerational transmission of child abuse: rates, research, and clinical implications | journal = Am J Psychiatry | volume = 150 | issue = 99| pages = 1314–24 | doi = 10.1176/ajp.150.9.1315 | pmid = 8352342 }}</ref>

Researchers have pointed to other potential psycho-biological effects of child physical abuse on parenting, when abused children become adults. These recent findings may, at least in part, be carried forward by epigenetic changes that impact the regulation of stress physiology.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schechter |first1=Daniel S. |last2=Moser |first2=Dominik A. |last3=Paoloni-Giacobino |first3=Ariane |last4=Stenz |first4=Ludwig |last5=Gex-Fabry |first5=Marianne |last6=Aue |first6=Tatjana |last7=Adouan |first7=Wafae |last8=Cordero |first8=María I. |last9=Suardi |first9=Francesca |last10=Manini |first10=Aurelia |last11=Sancho Rossignol |first11=Ana |last12=Merminod |first12=Gaëlle |last13=Ansermet |first13=Francois |last14=Dayer |first14=Alexandre G. |last15=Rusconi Serpa |first15=Sandra |title=Methylation of NR3C1 is related to maternal PTSD, parenting stress and maternal medial prefrontal cortical activity in response to child separation among mothers with histories of violence exposure |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |date=2015 |volume=6 |page=690 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00690 |doi-access=free |pmid=26074844 |pmc=4447998 }}</ref>

==Treatment==
Evidence-based interventions for physical abuse include [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] (CBT) as well as video-feedback interventions and child-parent [[psychodynamic psychotherapy]]; all of which specifically target anger patterns and distorted beliefs, and offer training and/or reflection, support, and modelling that focuses on parenting skills and expectations, as well as increasing empathy for the child by supporting the parent's taking the child's perspective.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Kolko | first1 = D. J. | year = 1996 | title = Individual cognitive-behavioral treatment and family therapy for physically abused children and their offending parents: A comparison of clinical outcomes | journal = Child Maltreatment | volume = 1 | issue = 4| pages = 322–342 | doi = 10.1177/1077559596001004004 | s2cid = 144341829 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Schechter | first1 = DS | last2 = Myers | first2 = MM | last3 = Brunelli | first3 = SA | last4 = Coates | first4 = SW | last5 = Zeanah | first5 = CH | last6 = Davies | first6 = M | last7 = Grienenberger | first7 = JF | last8 = Marshall | first8 = RD | last9 = McCaw | first9 = JE | last10 = Trabka | first10 = KA | last11 = Liebowitz | first11 = MR | year = 2006 | title = Traumatized mothers can change their minds about their toddlers: Understanding how a novel use of videofeedback supports positive change of maternal attributions | journal = [[Infant Mental Health Journal]] | volume = 27 | issue = 5| pages = 429–448 | doi = 10.1002/imhj.20101 | pmid = 18007960 | pmc = 2078524 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Lieberman|first=A.F.|year=2007|title=Ghosts and angels: Intergenerational patterns in the transmission and treatment of the traumatic sequelae of domestic violence|journal=Infant Mental Health Journal|volume=28|issue=4|pages=422–439|doi=10.1002/imhj.20145|pmid=28640404}}</ref>

These forms of treatment may include training in social competence and management of daily demands in an effort to decrease [[Parenting stress|parental stress]], which is a known risk factor for physical abuse. Although these treatment and prevention strategies are to help children and parents of children who have been abused, some of these methods can also be applied to adults who have physically abused.<ref name=Mash/>

==Other animals==

Physical abuse has also been observed among [[Adélie Penguin|Adélie penguins]] in Antarctica.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/09/sex-depravity-penguins-scott-antarctic|title='Sexual depravity' of penguins that Antarctic scientist dared not reveal|newspaper=Guardian.co.uk|date=9 June 2012|first=Robin|last=McKie}}</ref>

==Forms==
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Assault]]
* [[Battered person syndrome]]
* [[Child abuse]]
* [[Domestic violence]]
* [[Enhanced interrogation techniques]]
* [[Hazing]]
* [[Negligence]]
* [[Psychological abuse]]
* [[Torture]]
* [[Violence]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Medical resources
| DiseasesDB=
| ICD10={{ICD10|T|74|1|t|66}}
| ICD9={{ICD9|995.81}}
| ICDO=
| OMIM=
| MedlinePlus=
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{{abuse}}
{{Bullying}}
{{Domestic violence}}
{{Consequences of external causes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Physical Abuse}}
[[Category:Abuse]]
[[Category:Effects of external causes]]
[[Category:Violence]]
[[Category:Acute pain]]
[[Category:Domestic violence]]