Study: Abused and Neglected Children and Teens More Likely to Misbehave, Be Depressed

Approximately 12.5%-37.4% of all children and teens under age 18 in the United States are exposed to physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. A new study in the June 2024 Pediatrics(published online May 14), “Child Behavior Problems and Maltreatment Exposure,” finds abused and neglected children are more likely to suffer with?emotional and?behavior problems?during?childhood and adolescence. While a relationship between abuse and?emotional and?behavior problems has been understood, this research is the first to?establish?a directional relationship—abuse leading to?these problems and not the other way around. Authors studied data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, a multi-wave prospective cohort study of maltreatment exposure of 1,354 children starting at age four, following them throughout childhood and adolescence. They found that child abuse and neglect increased the likelihood that the children would have behavior problems at ages 8, 12 and 16. Abuse and neglect also led to increased rates of?emotional problems?at ages 6, 12, and 14. Study authors concluded that more research is needed on the impacts of specific types of abuse, but that screening and preventing child maltreatment at health care facilities and pediatricians’ offices is and should continue to be a priority to prevent new and repeated instances of child abuse and neglect. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.