Photo: David D. Creative Commons.

Child Maltreatment

Parental maltreatment initiates a cascade of child development problems
Physical punishment is a form of maltreatment that has a cascading negative impact on child development. Child and parental maltreatment triggers behavior problems, which can lead to learning problems at school, which in turn can lead to behavior problems. Learn more about child maltreatment with our advice-packed articles, backed by research.

Articles 9 of 28

Harsh parenting in childhood is linked to lower educational attainment at age 21. Exposure to aggression in the home can produce heightened biological reactions later in life in new situations (e.g., with a friend or partner) and dampened reactions in repeating situations (e.g., teenager-parent conflicts). These negative impacts are similar across cultures.

The most common form of child maltreatment is parental neglect, which deprives children of adequate relationships. Meanwhile “toxic stress” – excessive and prolonged stress, such as physical and emotional abuse – impairs children’s ability to self-regulate. Experiencing more than one kind of maltreatment results in worse developmental outcomes.

Other forms of maltreatment include controlling parenting and parental alienation when parents separate in a highly conflicted way.

Maltreatment results in brain development that can hamper children’s progress in later life – for example, a reduced ability for complex thinking, hypervigilance, and over-reactive behavior. Since brains are elastic, there is hope that ways can be found to undo early harm.

Researchers have studied alternative and more effective forms of discipline, such as procedural justice and positive discipline. But teaching parents that corporal punishment is a damaging strategy by presenting the evidence does not always work. Parents tend to believe only science that does not conflict with their beliefs. Breaking the cycle of chronic physical aggression toward and by boys requires intensive and long-term engagement.

Supportive co-parenting can mitigate harsh parenting. Mothers prone to anxiety are less likely to be harsh parents if fathers are supportive.

Child Maltreatment

Child Development Research, Insights, and Science Briefs to Your Inbox

Articles 9 of 28