Child abuse and its consequences: a review

Child abuse and neglect affect children’s health now and later, and costs to our country are significant. Neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse are types of child maltreatment that can lead to poor physical and mental health well into adulthood. The consequences of child maltreatment can be profound and may last long after the abuse or neglect occurs. The effects can appear in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and may affect every aspect of an individual's development -- physical, cognitive, psychological, societal, and behavioral.