Economy and Child Abuse
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: October 5, 2009
Northeastern Indiana experienced an increase in relapse of child abuse last June and July according to statistics from the Indiana Department of Childrens Services. A bad economy can often mean adults take their problems out on children.
Toddlers especially can be at a high risk for abuse. Dr. Michelle Drouin is a developmental psychologist at IPFW. Dr. Drouin says toddlers challenge adults with their curiosity and mobility. Adults facing unemployment, financial and or marital problems may be unable to cope with toddlers behavior.
Dr. Drouin also says kids with parents who make less than $15K a year are twenty-two times more likely to suffer abuse than kids whose parents make more than $30K.
