Neglection - definition, risk factors and its effects on child's psychological development

Abstract

Althought child neglect appears more frequently than child abuse, and has consequences that are equally severe as the consequences of maltreatment, it still is not recognized and a lot less attention is directed towards it then towards the others forms of abuse. Neglect is a consequence of interaction of a few factors that are on several different levels – individual, family and social levels. Exposure to neglect in childhood has devastating consequences on child´s development and causes both short and longterm emotional, cognitive, academic and social disturbances.