Friday, April 29, 2011

The cost of child maltreatment: Who pays?

Franey, K., Geffner, R., & Falconer, R. (Eds.). (2001). The cost of child maltreatment: Who pays? We all do. San Diego, CA: Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute. http://www.fvsai.org/bookslist.doc
The harm caused by child maltreatment extends beyond the individual victim to society as a whole. Abused children are at risk for numerous physical and mental health problems that make them more likely than non-abused children to develop eating disorders, depression, personality disorders, and somatic complaints. Children and adults who have been abused utilize physicians and psychiatric services more than nonabused persons. These individual problems can affect other people, as unresolved shame related to abuse can contribute to violence, a continuation of the cycle of abuse, and criminal behavior. The economic costs of abuse are great. This compilation of articles reviews the individual and societal consequences of child maltreatment. Long-term medical and mental health effects are described, as well as the prevalence of abuse history among female inmates, homeless and runaway adolescents, and other women. Cost and benefit estimates are presented in the final section. The articles illustrate the necessity of allocating more resources to the prevention and early intervention of abusive behaviors. Numerous references, numerous figures, numerous tables.
Table of Contents
I. MEDICAL IMPACT

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