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Statistics on Child Abuse - The Statistics and People You Need to Know For Your Healing
Statistics on Child Abuse - The Statistics and People You Need to Know For Your Healing
The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported a rate of 2.04 children per 100,000 children who died from abuse or neglect in 2006. One statistic from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimates more than 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year in the United States. Another JAMA statistic estimates 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of sexual abuse occur each year in the United States alone.
What is hard to find are stories and statistics about overcoming the odds. Who has healed from the wounds of child abuse and gone on to live happy and fulfilling lives? Is it possible to live an extraordinary life after enduring tremendous hardship? The answer is yes, and here are some inspiring facts and people that prove it.
The Encouraging Statistics
There was a study of 400 accomplished people done by psychologists Victor and Mildred Goertzel published in the 1960s. They tried to see if there was a common psychological thread that wound its way through the lives of "great" people. What kind of conditions did they grow up in? What did they overcome on their way to greatness?
The Goertzels found that of the 400 studied, only 14.5% of them came from trouble-free homes. 75% of the so-called greats came from troubled conditions such as poverty, broken homes, neglectful/dominating parents, financial instability, as well as other non-abusive factors. More than 25% of these achievers overcame some kind of handicap such as blindness (think Helen Keller), deafness, and/or other physical handicaps which motivated them to succeed in a big way.
So it seems fair to say that a majority of these successful people had to overcome hardships in order to get where they were, and these included hardships such as child abuse and a broken home.
The People
The Billionaire
Would you guess that the richest African-American woman of the 20th century, Academy Award nominated actress, and someone who was once the world's only black billionaire was molested by a relative as a little girl? She also overcame racial prejudice while growing up in the rural South and the effects of a broken home. When she was six, she was so poor she wore dresses made of potato sacks, enduring the cruel taunts of other children. This famous person is Oprah Winfrey, and she is someone who truly overcame the odds.
The Musician
This musician was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972 because of outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. He was noted for his significant influence on jazz and popular music in general. You may have heard his distinct, gravelly voice on such pop hits as "What A Wonderful World", featured in the movieGood Morning, Vietnam. With this kind of accomplishment under his belt, you may not think that he was the son of an alcoholic father who abandoned the family when he was just a baby. You may also not realize his mother contributed to the unstable home life by leaving him and his sister in the care of relatives until he was five. This famous person is Louis Armstrong, and is another person who overcame the odds.
Now you might say that the only reason Oprah and Louis achieved so much was because they had tremendous amounts of talent which contributed to their success. But you would be ignoring the most important factor. You would be ignoring the one trait that Oprah, Louis, and the rest of the 400 all had in common which led to their success.
The good news is if you don't have it, you can develop it. You can give yourself the trait that all the accomplished people in the Goertzel study had which led to their eventual success.
Adam Appleson has been actively involved in using self improvement techniques to promote psychological health and goal-oriented success for the past 11 years. He is the founder ofZenTactics.com, a website with advice written especially for survivors of abusive and dysfunctional families. Parent, Teen Communication - Stop Pushing Each Other's Buttons Books On Childhood Development Bridge Gap Between Children And Adults Single Parents and Divorce and How To Tell The Kids The Benefits Of Buying Your Teen A Reliable Car Pioneer Children and Their Clothing The Most Popular Activities for Kids Birthday Party Children Life Insurance Company Online course a good option for my child with learning disabilities Protecting Your Child During A Separation Burberry Outlet Kids Coats-Impressive Head Of You Be Sure To Put Your Personality On Burberry Outlet Kids Coats Common Sense Associated With Burberry Outlet Kids Coats Prosperity Of Burberry Outlet Kids Coats Is Clear