This document discusses several factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect, including parental characteristics, history of maltreatment, substance abuse, attitudes and knowledge, and age. Parental characteristics like low self-esteem, depression, and antisocial behaviors can increase the risk of abuse or neglect. A history of being maltreated as a child or witnessing violence can lead to learning violent behaviors and justifying them. Substance abuse can impair parenting abilities and prioritize drugs over children's needs. Negative attitudes, unrealistic expectations of children, and lack of knowledge about child development can also contribute to maltreatment. Younger mothers may be more likely to abuse due to other contributing stress factors.

1. Prepared by: Louie Antonette B. Lumactud
FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

2. Parent or Caregiver Factors
Parent or caregiver factors potentially contributing to
maltreatment relate to:
 Personality characteristics and psychological well-being
 History of maltreatment
 Substance abuse
 Attitudes and knowledge
 Age

3. Individual Characteristics Parents
and Caregivers
Research has not proven that particular characteristics or
personality traits lead caregivers to maltreat their children.
However, there are certain characteristics of parents or caregivers
that do place children at greater risk of abuse or neglect.
Some characteristics frequently identified in those who are
physically abusive or neglectful include low self-esteem, an
external locus of control (i.e., belief that events are determined by
chance or outside forces beyond one's personal control), poor
impulse control, depression, anxiety, and antisocial behavior.

4. PFS (Protective Factors Survey) examines five
protective factors:
1) family functioning/communication - adaptive skills and
strategies during times of crises
2) social emotional support – informal support for emotional
needs
3) concrete support – Access to tangible goods and services
4) nurturing and attachment – positive interaction bet. Parent
and child
5) knowledge of parenting/child development – understanding
child management

5. History of Maltreatment
 Individuals with poor parental role models >/< difficulty in
meeting the needs of their children.
 Some maltreating parents or caregivers were victims of
abuse and neglect themselves.
 Children who either experienced maltreatment or
witnessed violence between their parents or caregivers may
learn violent behavior and may also learn to justify violent
behavior as appropriate.

6.  An incorrect conclusion: A maltreated child will always grow
up to become a maltreating parent. There are individuals who
have not been abused as children who become abusive, as
well as individuals who have been abused as children and do
not subsequently abuse their own children.
 The presence of emotionally supportive relationships may
help lessen the risk of the intergenerational cycle of abuse.

7. Substance Abuse
 Children whose parents abused alcohol and other drug is
likely to be abused and neglected than children of parents who
were not substance abusers.
Substance abuse can interfere with a parent's mental
functioning, judgment, inhibitions, and protective capacity. May
neglect the needs of their children, spend money on drugs
instead of household expenses, or get involved in criminal
activities that jeopardize their children's health or safety.
Substance abuse can influence parental discipline choices and
child-rearing styles.

8.  All types of maltreatment, and neglect, is present in
alcohol-abusing families than in nonalcoholic-abusing
families.
 Negative, developmental consequences for children and
the mother herself.
 Substance abuse and child maltreatment often co-occur
with other problems, including mental illness, HIV/AIDS or other
health problems, domestic violence, poverty, and prior child
maltreatment.

9. Attitudes and Knowledge
 Negative attitudes and attributions about a child's behavior
and inaccurate knowledge about child development may
play a contributing role in child maltreatment.
 A parent's lack of knowledge about normal child
development may result in unrealistic expectations.
 Other parents may become frustrated with not knowing
how to manage a child's behavior and may lash out at the
child. Still others may have attitudes that devalue children or
view them as property.

10. Age
 Mothers who were younger at the birth of their child may
abuse their child than older mothers. Other contributing
factors, such as lower economic status, lack of social support,
and high stress levels may influence the link between younger
childbirth—particularly teenage parenthood—and child
abuse.