Analysis of the long-term consequences of child abuse: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2009-3578.2025v11n2p4306-4325Keywords:
Child Abuse, Long-term Adverse Effects, Public Health, Public PoliciesAbstract
Introduction: Child violence is a serious global public health problem, with lasting impacts on physical, mental, social, and academic health. Evidence shows that early adverse experiences increase the risk of mental disorders, chronic diseases, and developmental impairments, reinforcing the need for effective protection and intervention policies. Objective: To analyze the long-term consequences of child violence, identifying its psychological, biological, and social impacts based on recent scientific evidence. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted in August 2025 through searches in PubMed and the Virtual Health Library (BVS). The descriptors “child abuse” AND “long term effects” and “maus-tratos infantis” AND “efeitos a longo prazo” were used, according to DeCS and MeSH. Initially, 49,488 studies were identified; after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 studies were selected for the final sample. Results: Became evident that child violence is associated with long-lasting consequences across multiple domains. Psychological and psychiatric repercussions included depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. Biological effects involved neurobiological alterations, chronic inflammation, premature aging, and chronic diseases. Social and occupational impacts were also identified, such as relational, academic, and professional difficulties that compromise quality of life throughout adulthood. Conclusion: It is concluded that child violence produces multifactorial and long-term consequences, highlighting the need for preventive strategies, effective public policies, and multidisciplinary approaches to mitigate its effects.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Luís Felipe da Silva Medeiros Melo, Bruna Castelo Branco Silva, Henry Jonathas Messias Santos De Santana, Aralinda Nogueira Pinto De Sá, Layza de Souza Chaves Deininger
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