Risk Factors of Child Abuse
Risk Factors Prevention Programs Class Website |
There are numerous contributing factors that influence child abuse. There is no homogenous type of child abuser, but there are risk factors that will increase the likelihood of abuse (Miller, 2002, p. 565). Unfortunately, children are at a much greater risk of being abused by individuals they already know. In addition, children, “of stressed caregivers who have few resources are at greatest risk” (Rodts, 2003, p. 169). Low economic background, substance abuse, past history of abuse, lack of social support, high stress, unwanted pregnacy, single parent, physicall or mental illness and inadequate prenatel care are the most common risk factors of abuse. People who abuse children have often been abused or had similar negative life experiences. These early “experiences and patterns of childhood behavior are associated with an increased risk of victims becoming abusers in later life” (Slater, McMillian, Richards, Talbolt, Hodges, Bentovim, Hastings, Stevenston, Skuse. 2003, p. 461). Furthermore, these life experiences “can substantially increase the risk of subsequent sexually abusive behavior, above and beyond the fact of sexual victimization” (Slater, et al. 2003, p. 462). The cycle of violence must be broken to prevent the abused from becoming abusers later in life. Slater, D., McMillan, D., Richards, M., Talbolt, T., Hodges, J., Bentovim, A., Hastings, R., Stevenston, J., & Skuse, D. (2003). Development of sexually abusive behavior in sexually victimized males: a longitudinal study. Lancet, 361, p. 471-477. Miller, S. (2002). Child abuse and domestic violence. British Journal of Midwifery, 10, p. 565-568. Rodts, M. (2003). Protecting the smallest among us. Orthopedic Nursing, 22. |