Title: AbuseWatch.NET
Headings: Factors that Contribute to Child Abuse and Neglect

Content: Children in violent homes may witness parental violence, be victims of physical abuse themselves, and be neglected by parents who are focused on their partners or unresponsive to their children due to their own fears. Even if children are not maltreated, they may experience harmful emotional consequences from the violence they witness. Stressful Life Events
Stress is thought to play a significant role in family functioning, although its exact relationship with maltreatment is not fully understood. In various studies, physical abuse has been associated with stressful life events, parenting stress, and emotional distress. Similarly, some studies have found that neglectful families report more day-to-day stress than non-neglectful families. It is not clear, however, whether maltreating parents actually experience more life stress or, rather, perceive more events and life experiences as being stressful. In addition, specific stressful situations (e.g., losing a job, physical illness, marital problems, or the death of a family member) may exacerbate certain characteristics of the family members affected, such as hostility, anxiety, or depression, and that may aggravate the level of family conflict and maltreatment. 3. Child Factors
Factors such as a child's age and physical, mental, emotional, or social development may increase the child's vulnerability to maltreatment. Birth to age 3
The rate of documented maltreatment is highest for children between birth and 3 years of age.