Studies show child abuse and neglect lead to physical health problems

"Scientists have shown that child abuse and neglect, including exposure to high risk behaviors in the home, impact both the mind and the body of a developing child leading to multiple health risks throughout life.

A groundbreaking and long-term study out of Kaiser Permanente (often referred to as “the ACE Study” or “Adverse Childhood Experiences Study”) has shown that trauma during childhood, which includes child abuse and neglect, witnessing domestic abuse, or witnessing parents engaging in substance abuse or other high risk behaviors, leads to adverse experiences throughout the child’s life, with a direct relationship between the number of traumas suffered in childhood and the extent of adverse adult health risk factors."

http://www.examiner.com/article/studies-show-child-abuse-and-neglect-lead-to-physical-health-problems