Durgin 1

Elizabeth Durgin
Mrs. Harrell
English 2 Honors
May 15, 2015

Research Question: Does child abuse lead to physical and mental health issues as an adult?
Working Thesis Statement: Child abuse leads to physical and mental health issues as an adult
Refined Thesis Statement: Those who are abused as a child are affected physically and
emotionally.

Annotated Bibliography
Causes and Effects of Child Abuse. Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. Melissa J. Doak.
2009 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 5 May 2015
This article discussed the causes and effects of child abuse. Most children who
experience child abuse at a young age have developed severe mental and physical health issues.
One of those issues includes PTSD. They can get this through the experience of many traumatic
event. It also talked about the different type of abusers. These include mothers, father, and older
siblings. The mother may abuse a child because she wasnt mature enough to have a child, or
she was abused as a child. The father may abuse a child because he wants to show dominance,
or he believes it is his right as a parent to discipline. A sibling may abuse because they parents
treat them unfairly, give them too much responsibility, or were abused themselves. This article

Durgin 2
helps because it shows how and why children are abused, and also it shows that abuse can lead to
health issues.
"Child Abuse." Gale Encyclopedia of American Law. Ed. Donna Batten. 3rd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit:
Gale, 2010. 356-361. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 May 2015.
This article was about child abuse. It mainly discussed child abuse cases. It also talked
about the steps and duties of a social workers in the United States. It talked about early cases of
reported child abuse. One of those cases involved the death of a toddler. In some cases
children dont survive it. That is the worst case scenario. Another thing they talked about was
how they discipline the parents. In most cases the get convicted as felons and the children are
put up for adoption. In other cases case workers can not find any evidence of child abuse and the
children are sent back. This article will be able to help me because it supports my argument. It
gives evidence that child abuse is a dangerous and a harmful thing. This also helps to support
my thesis because it shows that children can be abused not only physically but emotionally and
mentally as well.

DOC: Child Abuse. Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. New York: Macmillan
Reference USA, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 May 2015.
This article mainly focused on the definition of child abuse. Most caretakers, parents, or
guardians dont know what is considered child abuse. Most government officials do not know
what is considered child abuse. Many have discovered that child abuse causes long term effects
such as addiction, felonies, and abuse charges brought against the abused child. Neglecting a
child can also be considered child abuse. Not giving a child the right kind of nourishment or
emotional support can be just as damaging as physically harming a child. Most parents who

Durgin 3
strictly follow their religions have been told that they abuse their children, but their religion has
rules and guidelines, such as no medical treatment, that may harm the child. That is where
government officials question the degree or the existence of child abuse. This article helps me
support my thesis because it shows that child abuse does have an effect on children.