Neuropsychological Profile of Children, Adolescents and Adults Experiencing Maltreatment: A Meta-analysis

Objective: Few studies have attempted to describe the range of cognitive impairments affecting people who have experienced child maltreatment. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine the neuropsychological profile of these people and to determine the cognitive impacts of maltreatment from childhood to adulthood. Method: Fifty-two publications from 1970 to 2013 were included. Results: The affected cognitive domains were working memory (g = −.65), attention (g = −.63), intelligence (g = −.56) and speed of processing (g = −.49). The impact of maltreatment was greater in young children (g = −.71) and less pronounced in adults (g = −.26). Conclusions: These results suggest that exposure to maltreatment has an impact on specific cognitive processes, regardless of age.