Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse and neglect (Fig. 1) is a serious environmental risk factor. It affects all aspects of the child’s development. Children who are abused and/or neglected experience a variety of conditions that have a tremendously negative effect on their development as well as their physical well-being.

Figure 1. Child abuse and neglect

To get more information child abuse and neglect, please visit the birth to six part of this course.

Child abuse falls into three broad categories:

• Physical abuse;
• Emotional abuse;
• Sexual abuse;

Child neglect falls into the following categories:

• Physical neglect;
• Emotional neglect or deprivation.

see References
Crosson-Tower, C. (2009). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (8^th Ed.). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.
Jenny, C. (2010). Child Abuse and Neglect. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
McCoy, M. L. & Keen, S. M. (2009). Child Abuse Neglect. New York, NY: Psychology Press.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childabuse.html