The relationship between parental socioeconomic levels and potential for child abuse

Research studies on child abuse report on such aspects as socioeconomic levels, characteristics of abuse, demographic factors, and assessment for detection of potential abusers. Characteristics of potential or actual abusers are frequently cited in relation to low socioeconomic status. Yet at the same time, data indicates that child abuse has no socioeconomic boundaries. There is minimal data reported that would help nurses to identify potential child abusers from higher socioeconomic levels. Study is needed to identify if there are any differences in the potential for child abuse as measured between parents from low socioeconomic status and parents from high socioeconomic status.