child abuse & neglect

Child abuse and neglect include acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that result in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.  The five primary forms of maltreatment are physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence.

For a document that outlines definitions of frequently used terms in child abuse and neglect research, see the page with the glossary of social work and child maltreatment related terms.

You can get more information on the signs of child maltreatment from the Family Violence Initiative, operated by the Department of Justice of Canada. You can also contact Kid’s Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 for further information.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, or are looking for information about services for children or families experiencing difficulties you can contact your local child welfare authority. Click here to find the local child authority agency in your province or territory. Please visit our FAQs section to learn more about child abuse and neglect.

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Title Sort descending Authors Year
Child Protection Investigations Involving Adolescents in Ontario

Fallon, Barbara
Van Wert, Melissa

2017
Child sexual abuse and adult romantic adjustment: comparison of single- and multiple-indicator measures

Godbout, Natacha
Sabourin, Stéphane
Lussier, Yvan

2009
Child sexual abuse as a risk factor for teen dating violence: Findings from a representative sample of Quebec youth
Hébert, Martine
Moreau, Catherine
Blais, Martin
Lavoie, Francine
Guerrier, Mireille
2016
Child sexual abuse, bullying, cyberbullying, and mental health problems among high schools students: A moderated mediated model
Hébert, Martine 
Cénat, Jude Mary
Blais, Martin
Lavoie, Francine
Guerrier, Mireille
2016
Child Welfare Investigations involving Latin American Children in Ontario in 2018

Henry Parada, Barbara Fallon, Laura M Best, Joanne Filippeli

2022
Child welfare responses linked to subtypes of exposure to intimate partner violence: Evidence from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect
Gonzalez, Andrea
MacMillan, Harriet
Tanaka, Masako
Jack, Susan M. 
Tonmyr, Lil
2017
Child Welfare Workers' Practice in Cases Involving Domestic Violence

Bourassa, Chantal
Lavergne, Chantal
Damant, Dominique
Lessard, Geneviève
Turcotte, Pierre

2008
Childhood abuse and harmful substance use among criminal offenders

Swogger, Marc T.
Conner, Kenneth R.
Walsh, Zach
Maisto, Stephen A.

2011
Childhood abuse and later parenting outcomes in two American Indian tribes

Libby, A., Orton, H., Beals, J., Buchwald, D. & Manson, S. 

2008
Childhood adversity and the risk of substance use and delinquency: The role of protective adult relationships

Brown, Samantha M.
Shillington, Audrey M.

2017