The Impact of Trauma on Child Development

TLDR

Childhood abuse and neglect are linked to lifelong mental, medical, and social problems, and recent research is uncovering the neurodevelopmental and psychosocial mechanisms that drive these adverse outcomes. Future success depends on greater dissemination and refinement of interventions to prevent maltreatment and mitigate its effects. The insights into mechanisms have created opportunities to intervene, preventing maltreatment and mitigating its effects.

Abstract

ABSTRACT A growing body of research links childhood experiences of abuse and neglect with serious life‐long problems including depression, suicide, alcoholism and drug abuse, and major medical problems such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Two basic processes, neurodevelopment and psychosocial development, are affected by early abuse and neglect. Scientists have begun to understand the mechanisms through which these adverse experiences alter child development and produce pernicious mental, medical, and social outcomes. These insights have opened opportunities to intervene to prevent maltreatment and to mitigate its effects. Future success depends on the greater dissemination and refinement of these interventions.