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Child maltreatment

Dante Cicchetti1, Sheree L Toth

  • 1Mt. Hope Family Center, Rochester, New York 14608, USA. MHFC@netacc.net

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
|August 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Child maltreatment creates toxic environments, increasing risks for developmental maladaptation. Understanding its causes and effects is crucial for improving interventions and policies for affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurobiology
  • Child Welfare Studies

Background:

  • Child maltreatment represents a significant risk factor for adverse developmental outcomes.
  • Toxic relational environments associated with maltreatment impact biological and psychological development.
  • Existing research provides a foundation for understanding the multifaceted nature of child maltreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of child maltreatment, including its definition, epidemiology, and etiology.
  • To examine the psychological and neurobiological consequences of child maltreatment from a developmental psychopathology perspective.
  • To discuss implications for clinical practice, legal decisions, and social policy, offering recommendations for future research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on child maltreatment.
  • Application of a developmental psychopathology framework.
  • Analysis of definitional, epidemiological, and etiological aspects.

Main Results:

  • Child maltreatment is characterized by toxic relational environments with significant risks for maladaptation.
  • Psychological and neurobiological sequelae are evident across developmental domains.
  • Understanding these aspects is vital for informing theory and practice.

Conclusions:

  • Child maltreatment has profound and lasting effects on development.
  • A developmental psychopathology perspective is essential for understanding its consequences.
  • Informed clinical, legal, and policy decisions are critical for supporting maltreated children.

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