Short & Long Term Effects

In most cases, children who are abused or neglected suffer greater emotional than physical damage. Recognizing the importance of early trauma to future development is crucial to assisting the victim. Not all abused or neglected children will experience long-term consequences. The outcomes of individual cases are influenced by a variety of factors that include:

Age and development status when the abuse took place
The type of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, etc.)
Regularity and duration of the abuse
The child’s relationship with the abuser

Physical Effects

Can be minor (bruises or cuts) or severe (broken bones, hemorrhage)
Important regions of the brain fail to form or grow properly
Lifelong physical health problems
Shaken Baby Syndrome (blindness, learning disabilities, mental retardation, cerebral palsy)

Psychological Effects

Immediate Effects:

Isolation
Fear
Inability to trust

Lifelong Consequences:

Low self-esteem
Depression
Relationship difficultues

Behavioral Effects

Studies have found abused or neglected children to be at least 25 percent more likely to experience problems in adolescence, including:

Delinquency
Teen pregnancy
Low Academic Achievement
Drug Use
Mental Health Problems

Societal Effects

Direct Costs:

Maintaining a child welfare system
Expenditures by the judicial, law enforcement, health, and mental health systems

Indirect Costs:

Costs associated with juvenile and adult criminal activity
Mental illness
Substance Abuse
Domestic Violence
Loss of productivity due to unemployment and underemployment

More Information:

Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Child Welfare