Childhood maltreatment and the link with victimization in adulthood: Findings from the 2019 General Social Survey
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Description: Childhood maltreatment and the link with victimization in adulthood: Findings from the 2019 General Social Survey
Childhood maltreatment and the link with victimization in adulthood: Findings from the 2019 General Social Survey
Measuring child maltreatment
- There is a clear link between adverse childhood experiences and negative outcomes in adulthood, including being a victim of violence.
- The 2019 General Social Survey on Victimization measured four types of childhood maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing violence in the home, and harsh parenting (e.g., emotional abuse, neglect).
- These types of childhood maltreatment were each associated with a higher risk of victimization in adulthood, even when controlling for other factors.
Harsh parenting was the most common form of childhood maltreatment, experienced by six in ten Canadians before age 15.
- Harsh parenting – 62%
- Witnessing violence – 21%
- Physical abuse – 22%
- Sexual abuse – 6%
All types of childhood maltreatment were linked to higher rates of violent victimization in adulthood.
| Type of childhood maltreatment | Did not experience | Experienced at least once |
|---|---|---|
| Rate of violent victimization in adulthood per 1,000 population | ||
| Harsh parenting | 30 | 115 |
| Witnessing violence | 61 | 163 |
| Physical abuse | 57 | 170 |
| Sexual abuse | 72 | 238 |
Link between childhood maltreatment and adult victimization was more pronounced for women.
In 2019, women and men who were physically or sexually abused during childhood recorded higher violent victimization rates as adults, compared with those who were not.
Women who were abused as children were victimized at a rate 4 times higher than those who were not abused as children. For men, the rate was twice as high among those who were abused as children.
Most childhood abuse goes unreported.
More than nine in ten (93%) people who experienced childhood physical or sexual abuse said that it was not reported to police, child protective services, or another agency.
For more information, see the Juristat article “Criminal victimization in Canada, 2019”.
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2019.
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