Question by bad girl: How common is child/teen abuse and neglect in the USA?
The Family section on Y/A presents so many questions from teenagers and obviously pre teen posters of neglect, physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, and drug use by parents. Are these posters truthful or are they in competition with one another for “Saddest story of the Day”?

I suspect they are truthful and I am horrified that adults could be so cruel and unthinking when raising children. Should we require a test and a license to reproduce?

Best answer:

Answer by i like summer
Very common in fact. it’s hard for someone to call child protection services..and nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. i know from personal experience, my dad used to be more violent after he lost his job, but then he got another one and is less violent…he never did anything that left bruises on me, but he’d grab my arm very hard and yell at me. how could i tell anyone without proof?

i don’t think a test would help. people can just write down what a ‘good’ parent would do…and there are too many factors to consider. The worse kind of abuse can be seen by a family doctor and reported, but yeah i think it is more common than you think.

What do you think? Answer below!