Child Neglect

Epidemiology

The youngest (most dependent) children are the most frequent victims of neglect, with boys being significantly more emotionally neglected than girls. Mothers (birth parents) are the most frequent perpetrators, given that women tend to be primary caregivers. Studies using the most varied and nationally representative sources of information report no significant race differences in the overall incidence of child maltreatment. Children from single-parent families, those from the lowest income strata (less than $15,000 in the 1990s), and children in the largest families (four or more children) are most likely to be neglected.

Correlates of Child Neglect

A systemic perspective (including the society, community, family, and individual) best encompasses the variety of factors correlated with child neglect. Poor parenting knowledge and skills, such as not engaging in discussions of emotional issues and showing a high degree of negative emotions; parental psychological disorders, especially depression and substance abuse; and a family history of maltreatment are often observed in neglectful parents. When the mother's partner is not the child's father, when there is domestic violence, and when the parents lack support or are socially isolated, the possibility of child neglect increases. Many of these factors are highly correlated with social class and neighborhood characteristics and are more often observed in individualistic than in col-lectivistic cultures and in societies, such as the United States, which have lower levels of systemic supports (e.g., national health care) for families.

Effects of Child Neglect

Effects of child neglect depend on the severity, duration, and type of neglect; the age, temperament, and other characteristics of the child; the number of risk factors; and the strengths of the child, family, and larger context.

Child neglect correlates with many physical and psychological problems. Research findings include delayed body and head circumference growth, increased rates of infection and failure to thrive, som-atization (expressing emotional problems through bodily ones), and a higher frequency of heart and liver disease in adults who were maltreated as children.

Delayed intellectual, motor, and linguistic development often characterizes neglected children. Neuro-psychological tests show deficits in attention, executive functions (e.g., planning), memory and learning, visual-spatial abilities, and sensorimotor functions. Research findings also include poor school performance and lower IQ and academic achievement in adults who were maltreated as children.

...