Overview of Child Maltreatment
Child maltreatment is a considerable public health problem in the United States due to its impact on the affected youth, their families and communities, as well as greater society. The possible consequences of child maltreatment are staggeringly complex, as the effects of abuse and neglect often cascade throughout the life course. While some youth exhibit adverse effects in many areas of human functioning, including psychological, behavioral, and physical health, others may evince few, if any, difficulties. Regardless, a predominant barrier to the assessment, prevention, and treatment of child maltreatment is the lack of clarity in defining and operationalizing the primary and associated terms. Broadly, however, child abuse generally refers to acts of commission such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, and psychological (or emotional) abuse, whereas neglect refers to acts of omission, including both the failure to provide and supervise. This chapter presents an overview of child maltreatment, including ways of defining and assessing maltreatment, particularly with respect to the severity and chronicity of maltreatment experiences. The effects of maltreatment on child, adolescent, and adult functioning will be examined, including psychological, behavioral, and physical health domains. Risk factors for and the larger context in which child abuse and neglect occurs will also be discussed, with emphasis on parental and caregiver, familial, and neighborhood risk factors. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research and practice to continue to advance the understanding of, and intervention for, this profound public health problem.