Dr. Zainab Mustansir , an intern @Mindworksbait

Today, I encountered a young girl whose story deeply moved me and prompted reflection on an important issue—𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧. She shared that her father had beaten her over what seemed to be an insignificant misunderstanding. As she tearfully recounted her experience, her words, “𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦,” echoed in my mind, revealing the emotional chasm forming within their relationship.

This heartbreaking interaction reminded me of the profound consequences that physical abuse can have on a child’s mental health and development. Drawing from psychological theories, I’d like to shed light on this issue and its potential implications.

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐛𝐲’𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲, children form early bonds with caregivers that shape their emotional and social development. A nurturing relationship fosters security, while abuse undermines this foundation. The girl’s admission of hatred toward her father signals a disruption in this bond, likely leading to feelings of insecurity, mistrust, and difficulty in forming healthy relationships in the future.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐧’𝐬 concept of learned helplessness is also relevant here. Children who endure repeated abuse may begin to believe they have no control over their environment, leading to passivity and a diminished ability to advocate for themselves. This mindset can persist into adulthood, affecting their self-esteem and resilience.

Research shows that physical abuse can have long-lasting psychological effects, including:

• 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are common among survivors.

• 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬: Experiencing violence can normalize it, leading some to replicate these behaviors.

•  𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: Emotional distance or complete estrangement from the abusive parent is a common outcome.

As a society, we must recognize the silent struggles of children facing abuse. Here are some steps we can take:

• Raise awareness: Share resources and information about the psychological impact of abuse to foster understanding and intervention.

• Advocate for mental health support: Counseling and therapy can help children process their trauma and rebuild their sense of self-worth.

• Promote positive parenting: Educate caregivers on constructive ways to address conflict and discipline without resorting to violence.