Children who have been abandoned are the most vulnerable victims of violence. They are often malnourished, abused, or neglected. Many are also at risk of being abducted and abused. Although they may appear to be well cared for, they may be living in filth and squalor. There are several reasons why a child has been abandoned. Some parents are irresponsible, while others are premature. Some children are thrown out of homes.

The primary responsibility for caring for abandoned children rests with the states, but federal involvement began in 1935 with the Social Security Act’s Aid to Dependent Families program. As women sought welfare, federal provisions strengthened state mandates. As more mothers turned to welfare and became unemployed, the financial burden on the government increased. The U.S. Congress began requiring stronger child support enforcement provisions. As a result, the government began to focus more on helping children who were being abandoned.

In addition to financial difficulties, economic hardships are also a major cause of children being abandoned. In the first half of 1998, South Korea’s welfare system received 2,348 abandoned children, up from 826 during the same period in 1997. But the problem of abandoned children is not limited to poor families. A wealthy American couple left their two daughters alone in their home for ten days during the Christmas season. A neighbour eventually noticed that the girls had been living alone, so they called the authorities and the child’s family to help.

When a child is abandoned, their emotions can be extremely difficult. They may develop feelings of anger, depression, or anxiety. A common reaction to abandonment is a lack of concentration. The child may have difficulty learning, and intrusive thoughts about the disappearance of the parent can prevent them from concentrating. These feelings of loneliness and self-blame can lead to problems with school and peers. When a child is nine to twelve years old, he or she is likely to worry about money and family life. The child might also feel like a drain on the remaining parent.

In addition to a child’s emotional and physical state, the child’s emotional state can also be affected by the abandonment. In addition to being angry and feeling resentful, he or she may have trouble sleeping. It is important for the remaining parent to be aware of the effects of abandonment on the child. He or she should reassure the child that the other parent will not abandon them. Those who are still left behind by a divorced parent may also have problems relating to friends and school.

The psychological effects of abandonment can last for decades. The child will never be fully aware of the experience. His or her behavior will be impulsive and incongruent. In the early school years, a child’s sense of self-worth will be extremely low. He or she will begin to reject things that he or she doesn’t like. Even worse, he or she will be angry with his or her mother.