Impact of child neglect
"I am at home on my own a lot. Things are difficult at home and mum is really struggling - she gets stressed and angry a lot. I have to do a lot of the house work and help with chores. I feel lonely and have not got anyone to talk to."
Childline counselling session with a girl aged 10
Children can experience neglect at any age – from pre-birth to adolescence. Neglect can cause a range of short- and long-term effects which may vary depending on the age of the child.
Brain development
Brain development starts at conception and continues throughout a child’s life. The early years are a time of rapid development (Department for Health and Social Care, 2021). How the brain grows and develops depends, at least in part, on how it is used (Burton and Reid, 2018).
If a child has little interaction with their caregiver, it can change how emotional and verbal pathways develop and impact their ability to learn. If a baby is malnourished, neural cells can become weak or damaged, and this can cause lowered brain function. This may have consequences for brain functioning in later life.
> Read more about how neglect can impact child brain development and how you can encourage healthy brain growth
> Sign up for our training course on understanding child brain development and the impact of trauma
Physical health and development
Neglect can be particularly damaging to a child’s physical development in the first years of their life (Department for Education, (DfE), 2014).
A baby’s development in the womb can be negatively impacted if their parent neglects their own health during pregnancy, such as through problem substance use (DfE, 2023).
> Find out more about the impact of problem substance use
Parents and carers also need to help young children to develop gross motor skills. If they are being neglected, or if parents don’t know how to stimulate their child, this process may not happen effectively and the child’s development may be delayed (Horwath, 2013).
A child’s health can also be neglected if they aren’t given enough of the right nutritious food. They can immediately experience hunger and discomfort and may have trouble concentrating.
Longer-term malnourishment will also affect their physical health and development. Having an unhealthy diet can also lead to obesity-related health problems.
Poor health, dental decay and in some circumstances, death can occur if a child doesn’t receive appropriate medical care.
Mental health
Children who have experienced neglect are more likely to experience mental health problems, including:
- depression
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- dissociative disorders
- memory impairments
- panic disorder
(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015).
Relationships and attachment
Children who don’t get the love and care they need may develop problems with attachment. They may struggle with forming attachments or may not develop a secure attachment style. This can lead to a child becoming isolated and affect their ability to maintain healthy relationships with others later in life (including their own children).
> Find out more about child attachment and how to support parents and carers in building positive relationships with their children
Behaviour
Experiencing neglect can impact children’s and young people’s behaviour.
Children who are neglected might be exposed to more risks, have a lack of supervision and guidance and develop low self-esteem.
These factors can all contribute to changes in behaviour, such as:
- running away from home
- breaking the law
- abusing drugs or alcohol
- becoming involved in unhealthy or abusive relationships.
Safety
If children and young people aren’t being supervised appropriately by their parents and carers they may have accidents which can cause injury, illness, disfigurement, disability or even death.
