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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

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• Children
• Teenagers
• Men
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Child abuse is doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of harm. Child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional. Neglect, or not providing for a child's needs, is also a form of abuse.

Most abused children suffer greater emotional than physical damage. An abused child may become depressed. He or she may withdraw, think of suicide or become violent. An older child may use drugs or alcohol, try to run away or abuse others.

Child abuse is a serious problem. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the police or your local child welfare agency.

Start Here

• Child Abuse: The Hidden Bruises (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Child Trauma (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Also in Spanish
• What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms (Children's Bureau) - PDF

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect (Children's Bureau) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Questions and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse (American Psychological Association)

Specifics

• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome) (Nemours Foundation)
• Acts of Omission: An Overview of Child Neglect (Children's Bureau)
• Shaken Baby Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• CDC Vital Signs: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities: Statistics and Interventions (Children's Bureau)
• Child Maltreatment Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Abuse (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The Effects of Childhood Maltreatment on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Male Adolescents:...
• Article: Association between Work-Related Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Child...
• Article: Prenatal Sociodemographic Factors Predicting Maltreatment of Children up to 3 Years...
• Child Abuse -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Glossary (Family and Youth Services Bureau)

Find an Expert

• Administration for Children and Families
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Children

• Going to a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Therapist (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• How to Handle Abuse (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Abuse (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Going to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Youth and Teens Page (National Runaway Safeline)

Men

• Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Man's Guide to Coping with the Effects of Childhood Abuse (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF

Women

• Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Woman's Guide to Coping with Childhood Abuse Issues (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Child abuse - physical (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Child neglect and emotional abuse (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Shaken baby syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish