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Editorial: How Badly Do We Undercount Chronic Maltreatment, and How Much Should Clinicians Care?
1Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit, Soelvgade 10, 2.tv. DK-1307 Copenhagen.
Insights
Child maltreatment affects approximately 1 in 8 American children, incurring substantial lifetime costs exceeding $210,000 per victim. These findings highlight the widespread and expensive nature of child abuse and neglect in the U.S.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Child Welfare Studies
- Socioeconomics
Background:
- Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the United States.
- Previous research indicates high prevalence and substantial societal costs associated with child abuse and neglect.
- The full scope and economic impact may not be widely recognized outside the child welfare system.
Discussion:
- The prevalence and cost of child maltreatment are often underestimated by professionals outside the child welfare system.
- Understanding the scope of child maltreatment is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems.
Key Insights:
- Approximately 1 in 8 American children experience confirmed maltreatment.
- The average lifetime cost per victim of child maltreatment exceeds $210,000.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to fully comprehend the long-term consequences of child maltreatment.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to address the multifaceted nature of child maltreatment and its societal impact.
Abstract:
Child maltreatment is both common1-4 and costly5,6 for children, communities, and society. Recent estimates suggest that roughly 1 in 8 American children will experience confirmed maltreatment,4 and the average lifetime cost per maltreatment victim is in excess of $210,000.5 This is the farthest thing from news for those who work in the child welfare system. But for those of us-whether adolescent and child psychiatrists, demographers, criminologists, or economists-who have an interest in marginalized children but are less "in the weeds" of the child welfare system, both the cost and the scope of maltreatment in the United States is jarring.
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