▁are ▁complex ▁and ▁can ▁be ▁attributed ▁to ▁three ▁different ▁levels : ▁an ▁int rap erson al , ▁an ▁inter - person al / family , ▁and ▁a ▁social / e conom ic ▁level . ▁Although ▁the ▁causes ▁of ▁neglect ▁are ▁varied , ▁studies ▁suggest ▁that , ▁amongst ▁other ▁things , ▁parent al ▁mental ▁health ▁problems , ▁subst ance ▁use , ▁domestic ▁violence , ▁un emp loyment , ▁and ▁pover ty ▁are ▁factors ▁which ▁increase ▁the ▁lik elihood ▁of ▁neglect . ▁Children ▁that ▁result ▁from ▁un int ended ▁pre gn an cies ▁are ▁more ▁likely ▁to ▁suffer ▁from ▁ab use ▁and ▁neglect . ▁They ▁are ▁also ▁more ▁likely ▁to ▁live ▁in ▁pover ty . ▁Neg lect ful ▁families ▁often ▁experience ▁a ▁variety ▁or ▁a ▁combination ▁of ▁ad verse ▁factors . ▁ ▁In tra - person al ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁int ra - person al ▁level , ▁the ▁discussion ▁around ▁neglect ful ▁parents ' ▁characteristics ▁often ▁focus es ▁on ▁moth ers , ▁reflect ing ▁traditional ▁not ions ▁of ▁women ▁as ▁primary ▁care g ivers ▁for ▁children . ▁" N eg lect ful ▁attributes " ▁have ▁included ▁an ▁in ability ▁to ▁plan , ▁lack ▁of ▁confidence ▁about ▁the ▁future , ▁difficulty ▁with ▁man aging ▁money , ▁emot ional ▁imm atur ity , ▁lack ▁of ▁knowledge ▁of ▁children ' s ▁needs , ▁a ▁large ▁number ▁of ▁children , ▁being ▁a ▁te en age ▁mother , ▁high ▁levels ▁of ▁stress ▁and ▁poor ▁so cio e conom ic ▁circumstances . ▁M ental ▁health ▁problems , ▁particularly ▁de pression ,