Child abuse refers to physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment of a child. According to 2007 statistics on childhelp.org, a report of child abuse is made about every 10 seconds in the United States, and just under five children die from some form of child abuse every day. Child abuse can be as obvious as a black eye or as subtle as a parent neglecting his children. There is never a good reason for child abuse, but always an underlying cause.
Community Causes
Community causes of child abuse refer to stressful situations brought on by living arrangements and lifestyle that cause stress to the family unit. These can include poverty, unemployment, social isolation and lack of an adequate support system. When parents are under a lot of stress due to everyday living conditions, forms of child abuse such as neglect and physical abuse can increase.
Family Causes
Family causes of child abuse include domestic violence, substance abuse and parents who have been abused themselves and are continuing the cycle. In a household with domestic violence, since there is already one form of violence in the house, the likelihood of more increases. According to childhelp.org, "about 30 percent of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children."
Child-Centered Causes
Although it is never a child's fault that he is abused, there are some situations surrounding the child that can increase the likelihood of abuse. A child born outside marriage or from an unwanted pregnancy, one who is disabled or who causes stress from his behavior increase the risk, according to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
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