The Four Types Of Child Abuse

Child abuse is unfortunately a common occurrence within our current society. There is no single cause of child abuse, although there are many risk factors. The general risk factors include a parents' history of child abuse, a drug/alcohol problem, mental illness, and lack of support. There are four types of child abuse: physical, sexual, mental, and neglect. Neglect is the most common form of abuse, although when one form of abuse surfaces, there is often more than one type involved.
According to The National Children's Alliance's statistics, "four out of every five abusers are the victims' parents." Generally speaking, most cases of child abuse occur in an area thought to be safest: the home. While there is no direct cause of child abuse, there are common variables known as risk factors that indicate abuse. The most common displays of risk factors include disabilities or mental retardation in children that may increase caregiver burden, social isolation of families, parents' lack of understanding of children's needs and child development, parents' history of domestic abuse, poverty / other socioeconomic disadvantages, such as unemployment, family disorganization,
"Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment" (Warenick). There are also three subtypes of neglect: emotional, medical, and educational. Emotional neglect is when a child is not getting the proper affection and support needed to grow a strong sense of self. Medical neglect is not providing the appropriate treatment for injuries and illnesses. It is also considered medical neglect if the parent or caregiver does not provide basic preventive care to make sure their child stays safe and healthy. The effects of neglect are often shown by malnutrition, untreated medical problems, weight fluctuation, hunger, and dirty or wrong size in