Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (대한소아청소년정신의학회)
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Childhood Maltreatment and Toxic Stress: What We Have Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

  • Winda Indriati (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital) ;
  • Salva R. Yurista (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital) ;
  • I Gusti Ayu Indah Ardani (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Udayana University Hospital) ;
  • Yunias Setiawati (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital)
  • Received : 2024.02.09
  • Accepted : 2024.04.02
  • Published : 2024.07.01
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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.

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References

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