Abuse can happen to anyone. But research shows that some children who have experienced abuse share similar risk factors. This means they may be more vulnerable.
Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't automatically mean a child will experience abuse or neglect – and not having any of them doesn't guarantee that a child will never be harmed.
Understanding risk and vulnerability factors, and their individual and combined impact on children's lives, can help professionals identify which families may need extra support.
