Title: Risk and Protective Factors|Child Abuse and Neglect|Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC
Headings: Risk and Protective Factors
Risk and Protective Factors
Risk Factors for Victimization
Individual Risk Factors
Risk Factors for Perpetration
Individual Risk Factors
Family Risk Factors
Community Risk Factors
Protective Factors for Child Abuse and Neglect
Individual Protective Factors
Family Protective Factors
Community Protective Factors
See Child Abuse and Neglect Resources for more resources about child abuse and neglect prevention.
References

Content: Risk and Protective Factors|Child Abuse and Neglect|Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC
Risk and Protective Factors
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Risk Factors for Victimization
Risk Factors for Perpetration
Protective Factors
Risk factors are characteristics that may increase the likelihood of experiencing or perpetrating child abuse and neglect, but they may or may not be direct causes. 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 factors have been found to increase their risk of being abused and or neglected. Watch Moving Forward to learn more about how increasing what protects people from violence and reducing what puts people at risk for it benefits everyone. Risk Factors for Victimization
Individual Risk Factors
Children younger than 4 years of age
Children with special needs that may increase caregiver burden (e.g., disabilities, mental health issues, and chronic physical illnesses)
Risk Factors for Perpetration
Individual Risk Factors
Caregivers with drug or alcohol issues
Caregivers with mental health issues, including depression
Caregivers who don’t understand children’s needs or development
Caregivers who were abused or neglected as children
Caregivers who are young or single parents or parents with many children
Caregivers with low education or income
Caregivers experiencing high levels of parenting stress and economic stress
Caregivers who use spanking and other forms of corporal punishment for discipline
Caregivers in the home who are not a biological parent
Caregivers with attitudes accepting of or justifying violence or aggression
Family Risk Factors
Families that have family members in jail or prison
Families that are isolated from and not connected to other people (extended family, friends, neighbors)
Family violence, including relationship violence
Families with high conflict and negative communication styles
Community Risk Factors
Communities with high rates of violence and crime
Communities with high rates of poverty and limited educational and economic opportunities
Communities with high unemployment rates
Communities with easy access to drugs and alcohol
Communities where neighbors don’t know or look out for each other and there is low community involvement among residents
Communities with few community activities for young people
Communities with unstable housing and where residents move frequently
Communities where families frequently experience food insecurity
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Protective Factors for Child Abuse and Neglect
Protective factors may lessen the likelihood of children being abused or neglected. Identifying and understanding protective factors are equally as important as researching risk factors. Individual Protective Factors
Caregivers who create safe, positive relationships with children
Caregivers who practice nurturing parenting skills and provide emotional support
Caregivers who can meet basic needs of food, shelter, education, and health services
Caregivers who have a college degree or higher and have steady employment
Family Protective Factors
Families with strong social support networks and stable, positive relationships with the people around them
Families where caregivers are present and interested in the child
Families where caregivers enforce household rules and engage in child monitoring
Families with caring adults outside the family who can serve as role models or mentors
Community Protective Factors
Communities with access to safe, stable housing
Communities where families have access to high-quality preschool
Communities where families have access to nurturing and safe childcare
Communities where families have access to safe, engaging after school programs and activities
Communities where families have access to medical care and mental health services
Communities where families have access to economic and financial help
Communities where adults have work opportunities with family-friendly policies
See Child Abuse and Neglect Resources for more resources about child abuse and neglect prevention. References
Chu, AT, Pineda, AS, DePrince, AP, & Freyd, JJ. ( 2011) Vulnerability and protective factors for child abuse and maltreatment. In: