The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh found that the United States has more to worry about than money problems during difficult economic times. As the Associated Press reports, a newly published study concluded that child abuse rose substantially during the economic recession — especially among infants.
Researchers studied 422 abused children from lower-income families in 74 counties and four states over the course of five years. During this time, cases of abusive head trauma – which includes shaken baby syndrome – increased by a staggering 65 percent, from 9 cases per 100,000 children in years before the recession to nearly 15 per 100,000. The researchers said rates of unemployment also increased in these areas during the study, and the proportion of children on Medicaid increased from 77 percent to 83 percent.
Although the research does not prove the recession caused an increase in abuse, doctors and researchers alike say the study illustrates the point that the recession hit lower-income families especially hard, and economic woes can act as a difficult stressor for anyone.
“Most [instances of child abuse] is kind of just snapping, maybe being sleep-deprived and just losing it,” said Dr. Peter Sherman, who was interviewed for the Associated Press story. “It’s something that can happen to anyone. Economics is just another stress.”
Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.