(What role does substance use in the home play in producing, intensifying or facilitating these harms? What ripple effect does it have intergenerationally on both development and potential future substance use by these innocent victims of substance using adults? Dalgarno Institute)
A study of adults from the US Midwest who experienced childhood maltreatment found that those with objective records of maltreatment tended to show pervasive cognitive deficits compared to individuals without such records. These cognitive deficits were not observed in individuals who self-reported childhood maltreatment but lacked objective documentation. The research was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Childhood maltreatment refers to abuse or neglect experienced by a child, typically at the hands of a caregiver, parent, or other authority figure. It can take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.
Physical abuse involves causing bodily harm or injury to the child, while emotional abuse includes behaviors such as constant criticism, humiliation, or manipulation that harm the child’s psychological well-being. Sexual abuse refers to any sexual activity with a child, often involving exploitation or coercion. Neglect, on the other hand, occurs when a child’s basic needs—such as food, shelter, healthcare, and emotional support—are not adequately met.
Childhood maltreatment can have long-term consequences, affecting a child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Survivors of childhood maltreatment are at higher risk of developing mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and difficulties forming healthy relationships
The findings suggest that using only retrospective self-reports may obscure the significant cognitive impairments that are more prevalent in those with documented histories of childhood neglect, potentially leading to an underestimation of the long-term cognitive and functional challenges these individuals face.
“While there are some important exceptions, most research in this area has relied on retrospective reports of childhood maltreatment from adult participants,” Danese said in a news release. “Our study has shown that this reliance on retrospective reports has likely resulted in researchers and clinicians underestimating the extent to which individuals with documented cases of maltreatment, and particularly neglect, are experiencing cognitive deficits.”
“Our study highlights the importance of identifying young people who have experienced neglect so that the proper support can be put in place, for example, to mitigate the negative consequences in education and employment.” (For more go to PsyPost)
Also see
- Child Abuse – Girls a Particular Target. (The AOD Factor?)
- Parents who regularly take three or more drinks a day may be abusing children
- Children Living with 'Toxic Trio' Issues More Likely to be Victims of Crime
- AOD Use & Sexual Assault – the Evidence
- AOD Use and the Kincare Crisis
- 'Ice corridors' mean one-third of Queensland children in protection have parent using meth
- Child protection Australia 2022–23: How Does AOD Impact this Crisis?