Physical abuse includes punching, slapping, beating, kicking, shaking, throwing, choking, burning and using an item to hit a child. The causes of physical child abuse are many, as are the myths about who abuses. The truth is that physical child abuse can happen in any family, regardless of its culture, race, ethnicity or income.
Severe Disciplinarians
Harsh physical discipline can cause injuries or death. Parents who were harshly disciplined as children often see that type of discipline as normal. Parents who see children as bad or evil and are highly critical, moralistic and suspicious of others often use harsh discipline.
Lack of Support
Parents who are isolated, either socially or geographically, lack the social supports and resources to help them cope with the stress and frustration of parenting. Social supports provide emotional support or a respite from parenting. Hitting out of frustration can escalate to more violent abuse.
Lack of Parenting Skills
Some parents, whether because of their youth or poor examples, never learn good parenting skills. They might have unrealistic ideas of what parenting is like or what children require for proper care. They might become frustrated and angry at feeling like a failure at parenting or at the demands of their children.
History of Child Abuse
Parents who were abused as children can experience overwhelming emotions of sadness and anger once they begin parenting. They might fear loss of control or that their anger will lead to physical abuse of their child.
The Challenging Child
While physical child abuse is not caused by children, parents who are raising children with challenges sometimes experience anger, frustration and loneliness. The child might have behavioral or mental health problems, or he might have a physical disability. Some parents are ill-equipped to handle these types of problems.
Untreated Mental Illness
Untreated mental illness can lead to uncontrolled anger and flashes of rage. Parents who receive treatment are able to exercise more self-control and understand the impact of their behavior. Mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or personality disorder can cause parents to lose control and physically abuse their children.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence involving adults often evolves to include abuse of children. In addition, children who witness physical abuse often abuse each other in the same ways. And an adult victim of abuse can take out her anger, fear and frustration on the children by physically abusing them.
Substance Abuse
Parents who abuse alcohol or drugs can lose control of harmful impulses and are more likely to abuse children out of anger or frustration. Operating a methamphetamine lab is considered physical child abuse because the environment is toxic for children.
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