Many factors that can increase a person’s risk for abusing a child include:
- Socioeconomic stress from financial issues, unemployment, or medical problems
- Lack of parenting skills to help cope with the pressures and struggles of raising a child
- Poor parent-child relationships
- Lack of support from family members, friends, neighbors, or the community
- Personal mental health issues, including low self-confidence and feelings of incompetence or shame
- Lack of understanding about basic childhood development (expecting children to be capable of tasks before they’re ready)
- History of child abuse or neglect during their own childhood
- Having a substance use disorder
- Physical or mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress
- Caring for a child with intellectual or physical disabilities that make adequate care more challenging
- Family stress or crisis caused by domestic violence, relationship turmoil, separation or divorce
While parenting can be a joyful and fulfilling experience, it is also demanding on all levels. Sometimes a parent or caretaker does things they wish they hadn’t done, things that hurt children.
Child abuse is preventable. As a caretaker, the first step is taking note of your own feelings. There are resources to help adults deal with the pressures of child care. If you sense that you may take your feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety, etc. out on a child you can remove yourself from the situation (step out of the room or the building); find a way to deal with your feelings, e.g. call someone such as a family member, friend, therapist or even the National Childhelp Hotline which is available 24/7 with trained personnel (1-800-422-4453).
You may need to release your feelings through physical activity, e.g. running/jumping jacks, a shower, deep breathing. Keep in mind that you have options. No matter how limited life may feel, we have both internal and external options at any given moment. This is a great time to take stock of what those are for you.
Here are some practical resources you may find helpful:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/