Childhood risk factors for later abusive behavior:
(1) material neglect (odds ratio 3.4)
(2) lack of supervision (odds ratio 3.0)
(3) sexual abuse by a female (odds ratio 3.0)
(4) witnessing intrafamilial abuse (odds ratio 3.1)
(5) exhibited cruelty to animals (odds ratio 7.9)
Other risk factors found with equal frequency between abusive and nonabusive males:
(1) experience of physical abuse
(2) rejection by caregivers
(3) discontinuity of care (parental separations, foster home, orphanage)
The authors developed a risk index score using multiple logistic regression, but did not describe this in the article.
The authors also developed a protective index based on factors thought to reduce the risk for abusive behavior, but these factors did not reduce the risk of being abusive:
(1) good relationship with an adult
(2) good relationship with a peer
(3) non-abusive male caregivers by age 12
(4) non-abusive female caregivers by age 12
(5) stability in care (length of time cared for by the same caregiver, foster care, limited number of caregivers)
