A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of child abuse and neglect. Although children are not responsible for the harm inflicted upon them, certain characteristics have been found to increase their risk of being maltreated. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with child abuse and neglect—they may or may not be direct causes.
Risk Factors for Victimization
Individual Risk Factors
Children younger than 4 years of age
Special needs that may increase caregiver burden (e.g., disabilities, mental health issues, and chronic physical illnesses)
Risk Factors for Perpetration
Individual Risk Factors
Parents’ lack of understanding of children’s needs, child development and parenting skills
Parents’ history of child maltreatment in family of origin
Substance abuse and/or mental health issues including depression in the family
Parental characteristics such as young age, low education, single parenthood, large number of dependent children, and low income
Nonbiological, transient caregivers in the home (e.g., mother’s male partner)
Parental thoughts and emotions that tend to support or justify maltreatment behaviors
Family Risk Factors
Social isolation
Family disorganization, dissolution, and violence, including intimate partner violence
Parenting stress, poor parent-child relationships, and negative interactions
Community Risk Factors
Community violence
Concentrated neighborhood disadvantage (e.g., high poverty and residential instability, high unemployment rates, and high density of alcohol outlets), and poor social connections.
Protective factors buffer children from being abused or neglected. These factors exist at various levels. Protective factors have not been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors. However, identifying and understanding protective factors are equally as important as researching risk factors.
There is scientific evidence to support the following protective factor:
Family Protective Factors
Supportive family environment and social networks
Several other potential protective factors have been identified. Research is ongoing to determine whether the following factors do indeed buffer children from maltreatment.
Family Protective Factors
Nurturing parenting skills
Stable family relationships
Household rules and child monitoring
Parental employment
Adequate housing
Access to health care and social services
Caring adults outside the family who can serve as role models or mentors
Community Protective Factors
Communities that support parents and take responsibility for preventing abuse
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study The ACE Study examines the links between adverse childhood experiences including child abuse, neglect, and various household challenges, and adult health.
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child is a multidisciplinary collaboration comprising leading scholars in neuroscience, early childhood development, pediatrics, and economics.
Literature Reviews
Runyan D, Wattam C, Ikeda R, Hassan F, Ramiro L. Child abuse and neglect by parents and caregivers. In: Krug E, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, editors. World report on violence and health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002. p. 59-86. Available from: www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/en/chap3.pdf [PDF 176 KB]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACF). Emerging practices in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Washington (DC): Government Printing Office; 2003. Available from: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/emerging_practices_report.pdf [PDF 2 MB]
