The economic burden of child maltreatment in the United States, 2015

Abstract

Child maltreatment incurs a high lifetime cost per victim and creates a substantial US population economic burden. This study aimed to use the most recent data and recommended methods to update previous (2008) estimates of 1) the per-victim lifetime cost, and 2) the annual US population economic burden of child maltreatment. Three ways to update the previous estimates were identified: 1) apply value per statistical life methodology to value child maltreatment mortality, 2) apply monetized quality-adjusted life years methodology to value child maltreatment morbidity, and 3) apply updated estimates of the exposed population. As with the previous estimates, the updated estimates used the societal cost perspective and lifetime horizon, but also accounted for victim and community intangible costs. Updated methods increased the estimated nonfatal child maltreatment per-victim lifetime cost from $210,012 (2010 USD) to $830,928 (2015 USD) and increased the fatal per-victim cost from $1.3 to $16.6 million. The estimated US population economic burden of child maltreatment based on 2015 substantiated incident cases (482,000 nonfatal and 1670 fatal victims) was $428 billion, representing lifetime costs incurred annually. Using estimated incidence of investigated annual incident cases (2,368,000 nonfatal and 1670 fatal victims), the estimated economic burden was $2 trillion. Accounting for victim and community intangible costs increased the estimated cost of child maltreatment considerably compared to previous estimates. The economic burden of child maltreatment is substantial and might off-set the cost of evidence-based interventions that reduce child maltreatment incidence.

Life course health consequences and associated annual costs of adverse childhood experiences across Europe and North America: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…15,41 This human capital model is likely to be conservative (by not fully accounting for pain and suffering) and more detailed economic modelling is required as better ACE-related data emerges. Finally, although measured where possible (appendix pp 8,12,16,21) the potential effects of publication bias cannot be discounted.…”

“…The effects of ACEs on health-harming behaviours or health conditions can be additive or multiplicative, resulting in substantially increased risks to those experiencing multiple types of ACEs. 1 Despite the possible interaction of these effects, estimates of costs imposed by ACEs have, to date, focused on individual ACEs (such as child maltreatment) 15,16 rather than the combined costs of several ACEs. Research exploring such costs is needed to highlight the economic and health burden of ACEs and to make connections between often disjointed policies that tackle child maltreatment, domestic violence, and other ACEs separately.…”

The Triple-C Impact: Responding to Childhood Exposure to Crime and Violence

“…As with most other outcomes outlined here, brain and neurosystem chemistry serve as focal points when considering long-term physical health effects of violence exposure. 278 In fact, the biomarker alterations associated with exposure to violence that onset in childhood were found to be present in the body into adulthood. 279 Those findings support the strong connection between childhood exposure and health conditions that emerge later in life.…”

Community capacity coach: Embedded support to implement evidenced‐based prevention

“…Of the 3.5 million children, 674,000 were confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019). A recent analysis estimated that the lifetime cost of nonfatal child abuse and neglect victimization in the U.S. was $831,000 per child, making it costlier than the two leading health concerns in the U.S., stroke and Type 2 diabetes (Peterson, Florence, & Klevens, 2018). The economic impact of child abuse and neglect includes costs such as short‐term and long‐term healthcare, child welfare system involvement, criminal justice system involvement, special education supports, lost earnings, and quality‐adjusted life years (i.e., monetized value on child abuse and neglect morbidity).…”