Final answer:
Infants are the most victimized in terms of abuse rates, with teenage mothers being more likely to abuse their children. The elderly are also vulnerable, particularly those with health issues like dementia. Child abuse impacts victims and society significantly across all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering what age group is most vulnerable to abuse, infants or children less than one year old have been identified as the most victimized population, with an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 infants. This vulnerability primarily stems from their total dependence on adults for care. Neglect, which is not always intentional, can occur due to various factors such as poverty, cultural values, or community standards of care. Child welfare services may need to intervene if parents fail to utilize available support services to care for their children.
Furthermore, studies have shown that teenage mothers are more likely to abuse their children compared to older parents, and young parents in general are found to be less capable of dealing with the stresses of new parenthood. Alongside children, the elderly also represent a vulnerable group, with studies indicating that approximately one in ten elderly individuals experience some form of abuse, often underreported due to various factors, including health issues like dementia.
Overall, child abuse occurs across all socio-economic, educational, ethnic, and cultural lines, often influenced by parental stress. However, resilience to stress in parents is linked to lower likelihoods of abuse. Children who do suffer abuse may experience significant long-term physical, mental, and emotional consequences, affecting not only the individual and family but society as a whole.