Childhood Maltreatment and Toxic Stress: What We Have Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Abstract

Stress is a natural state that emerges due to the dynamics of an individual’s life. Children must learn how to effectively manage stress as part of their growth and development. Resolution is possible when children are exposed to stress and receive adequate support from their families. However, when stress is intense, frequent, protracted, or traumatic, as in cases of childhood abuse, it can become toxic and interfere with the development of the child’s brain and body. This results in vulnerability, which can have detrimental effects on the child’s overall physical, mental, and emotional health. This perspective discusses the impact of childhood maltreatment and toxic stress, drawing on insights gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to shed light on the lessons learned from this unique and challenging period and how they inform our understanding of the effects of stress on children’s well-being.