However, there are other factors involved. Often neglect is correlated with poverty and it is difficult to distinguish between what is immediately due to the neglect and what is a result of the poverty. For example, undernourishment may simply be an inability to afford the proper food, or it may be a lack of effort on the part of the parent. Medical neglect is also difficult to study since more than one factor affects medical compliance. This definition also applies to the abuse of a child by those not legally considered adults.
Effects are numerous and can be long-term.
They range from depression and low self-esteem to posttraumatic stress disorder, and multiple personality and borderline syndromes. It has been found that the vast majority of maltreated infants form insecure attachment relationships with their caregivers which, through development, tend to become anxious avoidant patterns of attachment. The style of attachment has been linked to later adaptation and development. This indicates that beyond the immediate abuse, there are short and long term effects of the abuse that affect the general development and emotional health of the abused child. It is important to note that a parent or guardian is at a substantially greater risk of abusing a child if he or she was abused.