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Child neglect is a worldwide problem that can seriously impact a person’s chances later in life. Neglect isn’t always as easy to spot as physical abuse and some people may write it off as less serious. However, neglect is actually considered to be the most common form of child abuse in the UK and can result in significant consequences that can span generations.
Childhood neglect can have negative impacts on neurological and physical development and may incur both long- and short-term costs to both the individual suffering from neglect and to wider society.
In this article we will look at the long-term psychological and physical impacts of child neglect and how we can break this cycle to create better outcomes for future generations.
Understanding Child Neglect
Neglect can be described as a persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs (both physical and psychological) that is likely to result in serious impairment to their health or development. Children who experience neglect may regularly appear hungry, thirsty or dishevelled, although this is not always the case as neglect can manifest itself in different ways. Some parents will choose to neglect their child, though neglect is not always intentional.
It is thought that 1 in 10 children have experienced neglect. There are different types of neglect, for example:
- Physical neglect – a child’s basic needs are not being met, for example they are not provided with adequate food, water, shelter, supervision or clothing.
- Educational neglect – a parent or carer fails to ensure their child receives an education. This includes not sending them to school on a regular basis, persistent lateness, pretending to home-school them or refusing to engage with school services.
- Emotional neglect – a child is exposed to emotional harm or not given the love and nurturing they need. They may be ignored, insulted, isolated, intimidated or otherwise made to feel useless and in the way.
- Medical neglect – a child is not given adequate health or dental care, including missing appointments, failing to seek medical attention when needed or ignoring the instruction of medical professionals.
Any child can be at risk of neglect; however, some may be more at risk than others, such as:
- Children born prematurely (when parents may not have been able to immediately bond with their baby due to lengthy hospital stays and physical barriers from medical equipment)
- Children with disabilities or complex health needs (they may have needs that parents don’t understand, find exhausting or lack the capacity to deal with properly)
- Looked-after children (children in care may lack a consistent caregiver that they are bonded with)
- Children seeking asylum (the people around them may have other priorities, they may have been separated from their families and may have complex mental health needs due to their background)
Neglect can begin very early in a child’s life (including during pregnancy as a result of maternal alcohol or substance abuse or failure to seek medical care) and may continue throughout the child’s life during infancy, toddler years or as the child grows up. It may also begin at any point in childhood due to a change in the situation or circumstances of the person who is supposed to be looking after the child.
Some situations or circumstances make it more challenging for parents or carers to meet a child’s needs. These risk factors (either individual factors or a combination) can place a child at an increased risk of experiencing neglect:
- Domestic abuse – children who grow up in homes where there is domestic abuse may be more likely to experience abuse and neglect.
- Drug and/or alcohol abuse – parents with alcohol or drug problems may find it more difficult to prioritise their children’s needs and make good decisions.
- Family history of abuse – not everyone who experienced childhood maltreatment will go on to perpetuate the cycle and mistreat their children; however, there is a correlation between the two. If you were treated poorly during childhood, make sure you access help and support so that the treatment you endured does not define your life.
- Learning disabilities – sometimes parents with learning disabilities (especially if they are undiagnosed or not receiving the correct support) may struggle to understand how to provide proper care for their children which may result in neglect.
- Mental health problems – some people with undiagnosed or untreated mental health problems may struggle to give their children the love, care and support that they require.
- Living in poverty – worrying about how to afford essentials, such as food and housing, can put significant strain and stress on parents which in some cases may lead them to neglect their children’s basic needs.
- Lack of support network – parents who lack help and support from their family, friends or the wider community to raise their children may be at an increased risk of neglecting their children.
Signs of neglect may include:
- Poor appearance and hygiene – children are dirty or unkempt, have unbrushed hair or headlice
- Inappropriate clothing – ill-fitted, unwashed or inappropriate for the weather (such as having no coat in winter)
- Being hungry and/or thirsty on a regular basis
- Extremely thin or emaciated appearance (neglected children may also be overweight)
- Unsuitable or unsafe housing – overcrowding, filthy accommodation, pest infestations, hoarding situations, lack of amenities (such as no heating or hot water)
- Lack of supervision – young children being left alone for long periods of time, children wandering the streets alone, a child being left in charge of their siblings
As they grow up, people who were neglected as children are at an increased risk of developing behavioural, physical and mental health problems.
Psychological Impact
Being neglected in childhood can cause sudden or short-term changes in behaviour, such as:
- Becoming clingy
- Aggressive behaviour
- Becoming withdrawn, depressed or anxious
- Changes in eating habits
- Displaying obsessive behaviour
- Finding it hard to concentrate or take part in activities
- Missing school
- Showing signs of self-harm
- Using drugs or alcohol
Some of the long-term psychological impacts of child neglect include:
- Increased risk of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attachment disorders
- Increased risk of engaging in risky behaviours, including risky sexual behaviours that can result in sexual violence, STDs or unwanted pregnancy
- Behavioural and developmental problems or issues with impulse control
- Inability to regulate emotions
- Feelings of low self-esteem, lack of self-worth and low confidence
People who were neglected as children may carry complex emotional issues into their adult lives as a result of the neglect they faced. This includes feelings of stigma, feeling worthless and difficulties around emotional regulation, such as being quick to anger. This can make it hard to form healthy, long-term relationships with others and may also lead to people getting into toxic relationships where they are abused once again.
Physical Impact
Childhood maltreatment causes stress which is associated with disruption in early brain development.
Some of the physical effects of child neglect will show up quickly. These physical effects can have short- and long-term impacts, for example:
- Malnutrition
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Weakened immune system and frequent illnesses
- Poor muscle tone
- Cavities and rotten teeth
- Iron deficiency (anaemia)
- Tiredness
- Weight and growth problems
Children who are neglected may be less likely to develop a healthy relationship with food; this can continue throughout their whole lives. They may not understand the importance of healthy eating or may not have been taught to cook from scratch. This can lead to a reliance on convenience foods such as ready meals and fast food.
Failing to eat a healthy, balanced diet and consuming too much processed food and foods high in fat and sugar, places people at risk of obesity and other associated health problems such as cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Children who were neglected as children may be more prone to develop physical problems in their adult life, such as:
- Some diseases (including heart, liver and lung disease)
- Diabetes
- Bone problems such as osteoporosis
Educational and Social Consequences
Neglecting a child puts them at a disadvantage in comparison to their peers. Children who are not cared for adequately during childhood may perform worse academically and are less likely to finish school with good grades and move on to higher education.
Educationally neglected children may not be enrolled in school at all, they may have low rates of attendance or regularly arrive late in the mornings. They may not be supported at home to complete homework assignments, important projects or revise for tests.
Schools have a vital role to play in recognising child neglect, offering support and making referrals to services that can provide intervention.
Child neglect may manifest itself at school in different ways, such as:
- Low attendance levels
- Persistent lateness
- Disruptive behaviour
- Poor relationships with peers
- Child always being hungry
- Incorrect, ill-fitting or inappropriate clothing
- Poor language or social skills
Patchy attendance at school is sometimes a red flag that there is a problem at home. It may indicate that the child is being abused or neglected in some way.
The UK government has set a target of 95% attendance to encourage more parents to get their children to school. Data from 2019 has shown us that 84% of Key Stage 2 pupils who had 100% attendance achieved the expected national standard, compared to 40% of pupils who were persistently absent. Children with high levels of absence also perform worse in exams than their peers and will be less likely to pass exams in all of their core GCSEs.
Challenges that begin in childhood as a result of neglect can follow people into adulthood and result in long-term consequences that have a detrimental effect on their future employment opportunities and socio-economic status. This can lead to fewer job opportunities outside of low-paid manual work, a reliance on welfare and a risk of exploitation or turning to criminality.
Beyond the psychological, physical and educational impact of child neglect, there are economic and social consequences, for example:
- Costs of medical treatment including medication and hospitalisations
- Costs of mental health treatment
- Costs of welfare and benefits due to economic activity
- Costs of welfare and benefits due to economic activity
- Increased risk of substance misuse
- Increased risk of exploitation
Breaking the Cycle
The fact that many people who abuse or neglect their children experienced some form of maltreatment in childhood themselves is widely accepted and well documented. To try to put an end to this vicious cycle it is important that strategies and interventions are put in place to help identify, treat and prevent the problem of child maltreatment.
Neglect can be hidden and insidious. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to tackle child neglect and improve outcomes for those affected. However, to do this, frameworks need to be in place so that agencies can join the dots, identify at-risk children and communicate their findings with one another.
Services that may be in an ideal place to spot signs of child neglect include:
- Mental health professionals
- Teachers
- Charity workers
- Social workers
- Law enforcement
- Doctors and nurses
- Midwives
- Health visitors
With the correct therapy and mental health support, children will be more likely to make a recovery from the neglect that they have suffered and will go on to become more well-adjusted adults.
For children, breaking the cycle may mean breaking the silence about what they are going through. In some cases, children may have to spend time in the care of social services while their parents and caregivers make the changes necessary. Placements should always be safe, supportive and suitable. Family reunification should always be done safely and in the best interest of the child. In cases of severe neglect or abuse, ongoing monitoring and review is crucial to ensure that children have the opportunity to fully recover and thrive.
If you have experienced childhood neglect and are concerned about your own parenting you should reach out for support:
- Practise ways to emotionally regulate
- Learn new parenting skills
- Practise self-care so you are in good shape to care for your children
- Get professional help from a therapist, counsellor, doctor or health visitor
Policy and Advocacy
To try to mitigate the impact of child neglect some of the following policy changes may be helpful:
- Increased funding for children’s services across the country, with particular attention to deprived areas
- Expanding the criteria for children to receive free school meals in England
- Making sure children are learning basic life skills, such as cooking and budgeting, in school
- Offering structured education programmes for parents on the long- and short-term impact of child neglect
- Designing more effective, evidenced-based interventions
- Reducing stigma around the subject of child neglect and opening up conversations
- Improving and expanding safeguarding training across all job roles that deal with children and families
- Increased resources to be made available to support children who have been exposed to child neglect
To reiterate, neglect is a form of abuse. If a child discloses abuse, the NSPCC offers the following guidance:
- Listen carefully to what they’re saying
- Let them know they’ve done the right thing by telling you
- Tell them it is not their fault and not to blame themselves
- Say you’ll take them seriously
- Don’t confront the alleged abuser
- Explain what you’ll do next
- Report what the child has told you to the correct authorities as soon as possible
Childhood maltreatment, including neglect, is a global issue. The Worldwide Health Organization (WHO) has made some of the following recommendations to provide more effective and promising interventions:
- Increased support for parents and caregivers including information and skill-building sessions to support the development of nurturing, parenting support to be delivered by nurses, social workers etc via home visits or in a community setting.
- Education and life skills approaches including increasing enrolment in quality education, interventions to build a positive school climate and violence-free environment, and strengthening relationships between students, teachers and administrators.
- Norms and values approaches – designing and implementing programmes to transform restrictive and harmful gender and social norms around child rearing, child discipline and gender equality and to promote the nurturing role that fathers can provide.
- Implementation and enforcement of laws to protect children from maltreatment and exploitation.
- Response and support services – early identification of at-risk cases, coupled with ongoing care of child victims and families to help reduce the reoccurrence of maltreatment and lessen its consequences.
It is also important to find ways to tackle the deprivation and poverty that can sometimes make it challenging for parents to meet their children’s basic needs. Community-based solutions (such as food banks) and charity interventions should only be seen as a short-term solution. Long-term strategies need to be implemented across the globe to support parents to provide suitable care to their children, and to intervene when the care they provide fails to meet adequate standards.
Every single child deserves to feel safe, cared for and loved no matter the circumstances they were born into. Organisations and governments across the globe must find ways to work together to eradicate all barriers that prevent children from thriving and becoming happy, successful adults.
Conclusion
Child neglect remains a significant problem all over the world. It is the most prevalent form of child abuse that can result in long-term psychological and physical impacts. Neglect in childhood can disrupt brain development which can result in mental health struggles, problems at school and behavioural problems which can have a long-term impact on a person’s life chances. Early detection and intervention are key in reducing the rates of childhood neglect and maltreatment and improving outcomes for children who have faced adversity.