Final answer:
Pregnancy increases the risk of violence for women who are already vulnerable, especially among teenage mothers, those in separated or cohabitating relationships, and women in low-income areas. The age of the mother plays a significant role, with younger mothers facing a higher risk of abuse directed towards themselves and their children.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research suggests that pregnancy increases the risk of violence for women who are vulnerable to abuse. Various factors contribute to this heightened risk. Women who are younger, especially teenage mothers, tend to have a higher likelihood of abusing their children compared to older mothers. Additionally, children born to very young mothers, such as those fifteen years old or younger, are at a double risk of abuse or neglect by the time they reach five years old.
Relationship status also plays a significant role in the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). Those who are separated tend to report higher rates of abuse due to typically higher conflict levels. Similarly, cohabitating women are more susceptible to IPV than married women. Economic factors are also notable; women in low-income and disadvantaged areas are more likely to experience IPV than those in more affluent areas.
Age is another risk factor, as women ages twenty to twenty-four are at the greatest risk of nonfatal abuse. In general, the stress related to new parenthood, especially among younger parents, and the conflicts that can arise in certain relationship settings, can lead to increased risks of violence during pregnancy.