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Neglect the Forgotten Abuse
Childhood neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment. In fact, the U.S. Department of Human Services in 2002 found that child neglect accounted for more than 60% of child abuse cases (De Bellis, 2005). A lot of attention is paid to forms of abuse, such as sexual and physical. However, little research has been done about it.
In this article, we will examine together neglect and its long-term effects on adults.
Defining Neglect
A team of researchers working with people living with the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder found that among their patients, 86% had a history of sexual abuse, and 79% had a history of physical abuse (Brand et al. 2009). Like in so many studies, neglect was not examined, leaving a gaping hole in our knowledge of its long-term effects on children.
Childhood neglect happens when the parents of children fail to respond to their child’s most basic needs. Unlike sexual and physical abuse, sometimes neglect is not intentional, but a vast majority of it is considered so. Child neglect is absolutely a form of abuse as there is a massive deficit in meeting the child’s need for housing, clothing, food, and emotional support. All these things are the building blocks for an emotionally healthy child.
