The Developmental Impact of Child Abuse on Adulthood: Implications for Counselors

Abstract

Many adults are exposed to maltreatment during their childhood. As a result, they may experience long-term negative outcomes in a range of developmental areas. The purpose of this article was to examine the social, physical, and mental health consequences of child abuse in adulthood. Implications for counseling practice are provided. ********** For Federal Fiscal Year 2006, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System of the Children's Bureau estimated that 905,000 children in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the 50 states were victims of neglect and abuse (U.S. Department of Health of Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 2008). Individuals who are exposed to abuse during childhood are at increased risk for experiencing difficulties in adulthood. Childhood maltreatment has been linked to a variety of negative consequences in adulthood, including substance use and dependency (Mullings, Hartley, & Marquart, 2004; Widom, Marmorstein, & White, 2006), criminal behavior (Dutton & Hart, 1992; Haapasalo & Moilanen, 2004; Lisak & Beszterczey, 2007), intimate partner violence (White & Widom, 2003), risky sexual behavior (Dilorio, Hartwell, & Hansen, 2002; Senn, Carey, Vanable, Coury-Doniger, & Urban, 2007; Wilson & Widom, 2008), depression (Gibb, Butler, & Beck, 2003; Kaplow & Widom, 2007), suicide behavior (Daley & Argeriou, 1997), and eating problems (Briere & Scott, 2007; Leonard, Steiger, & Kao, 2003). That is, research has indicated multiple negative consequences of child abuse that carry over to adulthood. The purpose of this article is to examine the social, physical, and mental health effects of child abuse in adulthood. Although these consequences are presented independently, it is important for counselors to note the overlapping nature of these affects. A brief overview of the professional literature examining how child maltreatment affects adult development is provided. The article concludes with implications for counseling practices. SOCIAL IMPACT Childhood maltreatment has been linked to various aspects of social development. In this section, we examine the effects of such maltreatment on individuals' substance use and dependence, criminal behavior, violence, and risky sexual behavior. Substance Use and Dependence The literature has indicated that there is a connection between childhood maltreatment and subsequent substance use and dependence. For example, a significant association was found between child sexual abuse and lifetime crack use (Freeman, Collier, & Parillo, 2002). In a sample of 1,478 community recruited women, 56% had been sexually abused by age 18 and 64% reported ever using crack. In addition, the sample's drug history included 95% for alcohol use, 88% for marijuana use, 64% for cocaine (not crack) use, 40% for heroin use, and 24% for speedball use (mix of heroin and cocaine). Seventy-five percent of mothers who reported childhood sexual abuse also reported heavy drug use in their lifetime (Marcenko, Kemp, & Larson, 2000). The connection between drug use and childhood abuse has been examined in other studies. In a sample of 892 men and women (79 cases of physical abuse, 68 of sexual abuse, 406 of neglect, and 396 matched controls), a high percentage of participants reported using illicit drugs during their lifetime (Widom et al., 2006). Specifically, 80.4% reported ever using marijuana, 35.5% cocaine, and 26.6% psychedelics and 4.9% reported ever using heroin. Additionally, the researchers found that at approximately 40 years of age, individuals who were maltreated as children were more likely to report current use of illicit drugs and more problems related to their drug use than were individuals without histories of maltreatment during childhood. In a similar study, only 8% of female inmates and 12.7% of male inmates reported no history of drug use (McClellan, Farabee, & Crouch, 1997). …