Did child abuse increase during the pandemic ?

Many experts, including doctors, believe that child abuse must have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. What does the evidence say ?

In the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics 2021 December Viewpoints: “A review of available data suggests that there was not a significant rise in child abuse related to COVID-19. Child welfare reports dropped, emergency department (ED) visits declined, and hospitalizations were stable.

“The Institute for Family Studies national survey of youth also suggested that child abuse may have decreased rather than increased. The Institute for Family Studies survey data show that more family time due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive association with mental health outcomes when compared with pre-pandemic data.”

Authors Robert Sege, MD, PhD and Allison Stephens, PhD conclude that “those of us who promote child abuse prevention should use the data to learn about prevention. How did so many families—despite hardship and disruption—continue to raise their children with love? The systematic supports developed this year seem to have worked; we might do well to sustain and expand the kinds of family support that prevent abuse and neglect.”

(JAMA Pediatrics December 21 2021)

—Patrick Crouse