Child Abuse Identification and Reporting:
Iowa Training for Mandatory Reporters

Risk Factors Contributing to Child Abuse and Maltreatment


Introduction

Who Are the Mandated Reporters?

Abuse and Neglect/
Maltreatment Have Many Presentations

The Disturbing Statistics

Legal Definitions Related to Child Maltreatment

Recognizing Child Abuse

Risk Factors Contributing to Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Protective Factors for Child Abuse and Maltreatment

The Consequences of Child Abuse

Perpetrators of Child Abuse

Dos and Don'ts Regarding Talking with Children about Possible Abuse or Maltreatment

Reporting Child Abuse and Maltreatment

After the Assessment Process

Child Abuse Prevention Services

Safe Haven for Newborns--Overview of the Safe Haven Act

Conclusion

References

Resources

Take Test

Exit to Menu




All of the causes of child abuse are not known, but a significant amount of research points to a number of factors that put children at risk for abuse. Generally, risk factors can be divided into 4 categories: the child, the family, the community and the society. It is important to understand that the child is not responsible for the abuse, however there are some child characteristics that put the child at greater risk for maltreatment. It is important to note that this is not an all-inclusive or exhaustive list and these factors do not imply causality and should not be interpreted as such (CDC, 2007; CDC, 2007a; CWIG, 2006; PCA-NY, 2003):

Child Risk Factors

  • Premature birth
  • Birth anomalies
  • Low birth weight
  • Exposure to toxins in utero
  • Temperament: difficult or slow to warm up
  • Physical/cognitive/emotional disability, chronic or serious illness
  • Childhood trauma
  • Anti-social peer group
  • Age
  • Child aggression, behavior problems, attention deficits

Parental/Family Risk Factors

  • Poverty
  • Parental substance abuse
  • Parental impulsivity
  • Parental low self-esteem
  • A lack of social support for the family.
  • Parental immaturity
  • Parents' unrealistic expectations
  • Unmet emotional needs
  • The stress of caring for children
  • Economic crisis
  • Domestic/intimate partner violence
  • Lack of parenting knowledge/skills
  • Lack of communication skills
  • Inaccurate knowledge and expectations about child development
  • Difficulty in managing relationships
  • Depression, anxiety or other mental health problems
  • Personality factors
  • External locus of control
  • Low tolerance for frustration
  • Feelings of insecurity
  • Lack of trust
  • Insecure attachment with own parents
  • Childhood history of abuse
  • Family structure - single parent with lack of support, high number of children in household
  • Social isolation, lack of support
  • Separation/divorce, especially high conflict divorce
  • High general stress level
  • Poor parent-child interaction, negative attitudes and attributions about child's behavior

Community Risk Factors

  • Low socioeconomic status
  • Stressful life events
  • Social isolation/lack of social support
  • Dangerous/violent neighborhood
  • Community violence
  • Poverty
  • Lack of access to medical care, health insurance, adequate child care, and social services

Societal Risk Factors

  • Homelessness
  • Exposure to racism/discrimination
  • Poor schools
  • Exposure to environmental toxins
  • Narrow legal definitions of child maltreatment
  • Social acceptance of violence (as evidenced by music lyrics, television, film and video games)
  • Political and religious views that value noninterference in families


Ken Hammond, USDA

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