Child Abuse (Causes)

Injury, or even death, of a child through abuse is frightfully common. Child abuse can result from physical, emotional, or sexual harm; and it can even result from neglect. There are multiple causes, including households that suffer alcoholism, anger issues, and substance abuse.

Risk Factors

A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of child maltreatment and abuse. Although children are not responsible for the harm inflicted upon them, certain individual characteristics have been found to increase their risk of being maltreated. Risk factors are contributing factors—not direct causes.

Examples of risk factors:

Disabilities or mental retardation in children that may increase caregiver burden
Social isolation of families
Parents' lack of understanding of children's needs and child development
Parents' history of domestic abuse
Poverty and other socioeconomic disadvantages, such as unemployment
Family disorganization, dissolution, and violence, including intimate partner violence
Lack of family cohesion
Substance abuse in family
Young, single nonbiological parents
Poor parent-child relationships and negative interactions
Parental thoughts and emotions supporting maltreatment behaviors
Parental stress and distress, including depression or other mental health conditions
Community violence