Early Child Neglect Can Lead to Aggressive Behavior Years Later

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that child neglect “may have the most profound effect on development of aggression if it occurs before age two, according to the study ‘Importance of Early Neglect for Child Aggression.’”

An AAP summary of the study says “researchers found that physical neglect reported to child protective services before age two was a stronger predictor of later aggression than either neglect at older ages or abuse at any age.”

The authors conclude that solving the problem of early neglect has the potential for immediate and intermediate and long-term benefits in reducing youth violence.

Click here to read more on the AAP website.