3.5 Risk factors for violence

Since ancient times there have been records showing that children have suffered abandonment, cruel and humiliating punishment, sexual abuse, neglect, and even murder and other violence from adults. This has occurred in every country in the world in a whole range of forms and settings. All children, everywhere, are vulnerable to abuse of any kind but research finds that certain conditions increase the risk factors.

Figure 3.1 below shows a model that demonstrates the layered nature of the risk factors for violence. This is known as an ‘ecological model’ which shows how an individual person is influenced by lots of other factors in their family, the community and the wider society.

(Krug et al., 2002)

Figure 3.1 Ecological model for understanding risk factors and protective forms of violence

We can perhaps understand this diagram in relation to risk better by grouping some of the most commonly recognised risk factors within each of the layers of the model (Figure 3.2). You might want to adapt the model to take account of your particular community and context. Obviously the specific risks will vary in different situations.

Figure 3.2 Ecological model with added risk factors

By looking at this model, you can begin to see the factors that expose children to risk of violence can take place at many levels. For example, a child may be more vulnerable because he or she has a disability (individual level). However, the risks will be much greater if the family is very poor (relationship level), the community has negative views towards disability (community level) and the government has failed to provide any protective laws and services to ensure that families with a disabled child are properly supported (society level).

The most powerful factors in the protection of children are:

• the development of strong bonds of attachment between parents and children
• the building of positive relationships within loving, safe and stable family units

These need to be supported by:

• communities that recognise and nurture the rights of their children within positive cultural norms
• societies that have a strong legal framework to reject all forms of abuse.

Together these conditions provide the wider layers of protection that help minimise the risks for violence.

Activity 3.3 will help you see the connections between the layers in deciding how much a child is at risk.