Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect
For most caregivers, parents, and community members, the well-being and safety of children is a top priority in daily lives. While many of us do our best to ensure the security of children in our families or in our communities, there will always be factors that remain outside of our control. The reality is that many children and teens face neglect and abuse day to day in the United States and beyond.
Child abuse is an act by a caregiver or other adult that causes harm to a child. This harm can be physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or exploitation. The act of threatening harm to a child is also abusive.
Neglect is the failure of a caregiver or other adult to provide a child with necessities, like food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision, or emotional stability and growth. This failure cannot be due solely to a lack of economic resources or inability to provide care due to physical condition.
In these definitions, the term caregiver refers to any person entrusted with responsibility for a child’s welfare, whether it be in the home, a relative's home, foster care, daycare, camp, school, or any other comparable setting.
According to the 2022 Child Maltreatment Report by the Children’s Bureau within the US Department of Health and Human Services, there were 558,899 victims of child abuse and neglect that were reported across the nation.
This represents a ratio of 7.7 children per 1,000 children in the population who suffered from child abuse or neglect. Of these reported victims, 74.3% experienced neglect, 17% were physically abused, 10.6% were sexually abused, and 6.8% were psychologically maltreated.
Of these 558,899 children, those younger than 1 year old experience the highest rates of victimization (22.2/1000 children of the same age), and girls are victimized at a slightly higher rate than their male peers. Additionally, American-Indian or Alaska-Native children have the highest rate of victimization (14.3/1000 children in a population of the same race/ethnicity), and Black or African-American children have the second highest rate (12.1/1000 children in a population of the same race/ethnicity).
Of these child abuse and neglect reports that were made, working professionals, like teachers, law enforcement staff, and social services workers, submitted approximately 70% of them. These professionals submitting reports have a connection to the alleged victim of child abuse or neglect through their job and are most often mandated reporters when abuse or neglect is suspected. Non-professionals, like friends, neighbors, or family, submitted approximately 15.2% of reports.
The World Health Organization reports that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men globally report having experienced sexual abuse during their childhood, in the age range of 0-17 years old. The WHO also reports that internationally, approximately 3 out of 4 children (75%) between the ages of 2- and 4-years old experiences physical or psychological violence in the hands of a caregiver.
While these are the reported numbers for 2022, it is important to remember that not all instances of abuse or neglect end up being reported. This data can provide us with a snapshot of the state of child maltreatment in the US, but it is not a comprehensive photo.
One of the most notable takeaways from this data is that young children from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds are those most at risk for abuse and neglect. That means our most vulnerable children and those who have the least ability to speak up for themselves and get help are the exact people who are most likely to be abused.
What puts a child at risk for abuse or neglect?
Recognizing the scope of the problem can help us put into perspective the urgency of the problem, but the highest priority should be given to developing strategies for families and systems for communities that can help protect our youth that face these adverse experiences.
To do so, we must first understand what increases the risk of a child being abused or neglected to identify those who need our support and care the most. Children are never the ones to blame for being a victim of maltreatment, but researchers have identified child characteristics that increase the likelihood of abuse or neglect.
- Being under four years old can be a risk factor, as these young children need constant care from caregivers, and cannot protect themselves from their caregivers' frustrations.
- Being an adolescent (between the ages of 10 and 19 years old) is a period of higher risk of sexual abuse as they are approaching and going through puberty and are more vulnerable to exploitation.
- Being the child of an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy can put a child at risk, if caregivers are carrying resentment towards raising a child.
- Being a child with special needs or disabilities may put them at risk for maltreatment, as their caregivers are more likely to experience high levels of stress, depression and anger.
- Being a child who identifies, or is identified as, a part of the LGBTQ+ community in an unsupportive home, school, and local environment.
In summary, children who are living in stressful environments where they cannot always rely on the caregivers in their homes to keep them safe are at risk in their own homes and are at risk of seeking love and attention from adults outside of their home, who unfortunately, may exploit their vulnerable position. Specific characters of parents or caregivers have also been identified to increase the risk of child abuse or neglect.
- Experiencing challenges bonding with a newborn child, which can lead to detachment and frustration.
- Having a history of being maltreated themselves, or witnessing violence as a child, which can normalize abusive and neglectful behaviors.
- Having unrealistic expectations for their child’s developmental abilities in combination with frustration with the child and/or ineffective methods of limit setting and discipline.
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs in daily life, or misuse of substances during pregnancy. Substance abuse can interfere with mental stability, moral decision making, and self-control.
- Low self-esteem, challenges with impulse control, depression, and antisocial behavior.
- Having a mental or neurological disorder that impairs emotional-regulation, decision making, and judgement.
- Experiencing financial difficulties that can lead to increased levels of stress in the home environment.
Some relationship factors amongst families, partnerships, and peers may also increase the risk of child abuse or neglect.
- Conflict or violence between family members or caregivers in the home is an added risk factor. Children in violent homes may witness domestic violence and may be neglected by caregivers because of the many conflicting demands in the home.
- Isolation from community members is a risk factor for children. If a child does not have access to trusted adults or peers outside of the home, they may not have people to turn to for help in the instance of abuse or neglect.
- Stressful life events, like a death in the family, loss of a job or income, or illness, can increase the level of family conflict. Heightened levels of stress or conflict in the face of these events increases the risk factor for children in the home.
We also must think beyond the individuals in the family, to also include characteristics of a child’s environment, society, and community that may increase their risk of child abuse or neglect.
- Socio-economic instability, including high levels of poverty or unemployment in the community, can lead to an increased risk of maltreatment for children. The lack of community support for basic needs, like food, housing, jobs for caregivers, or schooling can heighten the stress of families living in the community.
- Easy access to alcohol or drugs in the community can heighten risk, as it makes it more likely that caregivers may abuse substances.
- An absence of family and child support services, like affordable childcare, can limit caregivers' opportunities to get full time jobs because of the lack of support for their children, which can lead to further financial instability.
- The presence of social and cultural norms that promote physical punishment increases the risk of maltreatment. Some forms of physical punishment, like spanking, that may have been acceptable in family or cultural history are widely considered to be physically abusive today.
- The presence of social and cultural norms that enforce strong and distinct gender/sexual identity roles may put children that do not fit in the roles at risk, since they can be identified as being a part of a marginalized and communally rejected group.
What are some protective factors from child abuse or neglect?
There are risk factors that increase the likelihood of a child experiencing abuse or neglect, but there are also factors that can protect children from having these adverse experiences. Identifying these factors that reduce the risk of abuse and neglect can help us to support children in our communities in the ways that will be most effective, through individual relationships and community systems.
Here are some characteristics that have been found to be protective for children:
- Individual character traits like a child’s optimism, high self-esteem, intelligence, creativity, humor, and independence. These traits can create a positive buffer through intrinsic coping skills to persevere through adverse events.
- The presence of positive role models in a child’s life. This could include teachers, caregivers, youth mentors, babysitters, coaches, etc. Literature shows that just having one safe, predictable adult role model is the number one protective factor in supporting healthy child development and averting risk! That shows how much a strong, positive relationship really matters.
- Having caregivers who manage stressful events effectively and calmly in their own lives and who persevere through challenges. Witnessing resilience in a role model can provide an example for children to follow when they are having a hard time themselves.
- Growing up with caregivers who have access to social support, safe schools, health care, a stable food supply, and essential services. Community support and meeting a child’s basic needs can ensure that the environments they engage in provide positive experiences, and they are consistently safe and cared for.
- A structured, safe, and respectful disciplinary system at home. Having caregivers who communicate rules and expectations effectively, who stay consistent with guidelines, and who follow through on safe limit-setting procedures can ensure the stability of home life for the child.
The risk factors for child abuse and neglect may feel overwhelming, but there is so much that we can do as a community, and as caregivers of children, to protect them and set them up for success. Some challenges, like access to resources, financial stability, and presence of drugs and alcohol in the community, often feel out of our control and may need to be addressed on a higher level of community policy change, and systems development. Even so, there are concrete steps that we can take individually, and as community members, to strengthen the protective factors for children.
Want to learn more?
- Attend our FREE webinar on April 25
- Read Protecting Childhood: Prevention Strategies for Caregivers, Community Members, and Mental Health Professionals
- Contact us