Survey evidence of the decline in child abuse in younger Canadian cohorts

Conclusion: The results are encouraging in that they may have an impact on life expectancy, severity of various chronic disorders, and suicide in the population. They also support policies that have focused on improving the childhood environment in the 1990s. Results also underline the importance of using different kinds of data sources for evaluating child abuse.What is Known:• Physical and sexual abuse in childhood has been associated with lower life expectancy in connection with an array of chronic diseases, including mental disorders, and with suicide.• Measures of primary prevention have been developed in some countries, such as the USA and Canada.What is New:• Canadians born from 1983 to 1992 report significantly less overall abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse than older generations do.• These encouraging results support policies implemented in the 1990s focused on improving the childhood environment.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research