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What are the causes of
child abuse? |
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Why
would someone abuse a defenseless child ? What kind
of person abuses a child ? Not all child abuse is
deliberate or intended. Several factors in a
person's life may combine to cause them to abuse a
child: |
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stress,
depression, or anxiety; includes the stress of
caring for children, or the stress
of caring for
a child with a disability, special needs, or
difficult behaviors. |
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lack
of the nurturing qualities
necessary for caring for a child |
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difficulty
controlling anger |
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a
personal history of being abused |
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isolation
from the family or community |
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physical or mental health problems
(in the abuser) |
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alcohol or drug abuse |
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personal problems,
such as marital conflict |
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financial difficulties,
such as unemployment or housing problems
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No
one has been able to predict which of these factors
will cause someone to abuse a child. A significant
factor is that abuse tends to be
intergenerational – those who were abused
as children are more likely to repeat the act when
they become parents or caretakers. |
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In
addition, many forms of child abuse arise from
ignorance, isolation, or benign neglect. Sometimes a
cultural tradition leads to abuse; for example, such
beliefs as:
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Children are property. |
Parents (especially males) have the right to
control their children in any way they
wish. |
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Children need to be toughened up to face the
hardships of life. |
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Girls need to be genitally mutilated to assure
virginity and later marriage.
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