A risk factor is anything that makes you more likely to have a certain problem or disease.

Risk factors for parents and caregivers

People are more likely to abuse or neglect children if they:

• Are living in poverty or near poverty. This is a major risk factor for child abuse and neglect.
• Have a history of:
  • Violence, including domestic violence.
  • Drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Abusing children, or having been abused themselves.
  • Mental health problems, such as depression.
• Have little knowledge about how children grow and what to expect from them.
• Have a high stress level that is not managed well. This often includes being a single or teen parent or having several young children close in age.
• Don't have good support. A parent or caregiver who doesn't have financial, emotional, and other types of support may have to deal with a variety of hardships alone.

Risk factors for children

The risk of abuse and neglect increases when a child has a disability or other health issue, such as:

• Being a premature baby. Babies born early often add emotional and financial stress to a family because they need longer and more expensive hospital care. They may also need to be watched closely once they are home.
• A physical disability, such as blindness or being confined to a wheelchair.
• Below-normal intelligence.
• Developmental delays.
• A difficult temperament.
• Behavioral problems, such as ADHD.

Bonding problems

Another risk factor for children is not having a close bond with parents. Not having a close bond may be caused by:

• Parents not wanting the child.
• The birth of twins or other multiples.
• A long hospitalization of the newborn and separation from parents because of premature birth or health problems.
• Challenges related to fostering or adopting a child.
• Mental health problems in a caregiver. For example, a parent who is severely depressed may unintentionally neglect his or her child.
• A child with a major health problem or disability, such as blindness, deafness, or autism. These types of problems can make it hard for a parent to communicate with the child or for the child to give and receive affection.