There are many consequences and long-term risk factors that develop from childhood mistreatment. Abuse or neglect of a child may not always be easy to see, and the effects during later life can be difficult to trace to their origins. Because childhood mistreatment can have a profound and pervasive effect on a person's lifelong behavior and relationships, it's important to identify and prevent mistreatment whenever possible.
Damaged Social Interactions
HelpGuide.org lists several outcomes of abuse and mistreatment. Among them are the permanent effects on a child's ability to trust others and form relationships. When a child's primary needs are not met by his caregivers, he grows up without a model on which to base his future relationships. He may also experience concerns as an adult over being abused or controlled by others in future relationships.
Learned Behavior
The website for Child Abuse Effects lists learned behavior as a common outcome of mistreatment. A neglected or abused child may begin to emulate the abuse she experiences, bullying other children and initiating unneeded conflicts with others. This learned behavior can continue into adulthood, creating the risk that she becomes an abusive parent as well.
Poor Self-Image
Some forms of abuse are not as easily identified as others. Neglect and emotional abuse, while not as overt as physical mistreatment, can be detrimental to a child's self-esteem. If a child is told that he's stupid or no good, he's likely to internalize these beliefs and experience their effects throughout life. HelpGuide.org notes that adults who suffered from this type of mistreatment often fail to strive for personal or professional advancement. They may neglect to pursue an education or settle for an unhappy work environment that leaves them unfulfilled because they believe that they don't deserve anything better.
Emotional Instability
Children who are mistreated often don't develop healthy emotional behavior. They may suppress their emotions out of fear of further mistreatment, and this suppression can lead to unprompted emotional outbursts later. Adults who have developed emotional disorders during childhood may experience anxiety, depression or anger for no explainable reason, and alcoholism or drug abuse may result, according to the National Institutes of Health.
