Any child can suffer neglect, but research shows that some children are more vulnerable, including those who:

• have a disability
• have complex health needs
• are born prematurely or with a low birth weight
• are in care
• are seeking asylum
• are older

More information on these is detailed below.

Children with a disability or complex health needs

Children with a disability have been found to be 3.8 times more likely to be neglected. There are many identified reasons for this, including stretching the family’s capacity to be able to care; not being able to communicate their needs, misunderstanding the signs of abuse, a lack of personal safety and relationship and sex education programmes for disabled children, increased isolation, and their dependency upon others. Not only does this make them more likely to experience neglect, but it also means that the signs of neglect are harder to spot.

Children born prematurely

The association of low birth weight and preterm birth with child abuse and neglect has been the subject of debate for at least 30 years.

The findings of a recent UK population-based study showed that infants experiencing poorer foetal growth or preterm birth are at increased risk of child protection registration for neglect (as well as for physical, emotional, or sexual abuse). This was independent of maternal age and socioeconomic status.

Looked after children

A looked after child (LAC) is a child who has been in the care of a local authority for more than 24 hours. A child can come into care for many different reasons, and this is not always due to neglect or abuse.

However, being a LAC does make neglect more likely. This is possibly the result of placement instability, peer violence and abuse, going missing and disrupted relationships.

Children seeking asylum

Unaccompanied children seeking asylum are particularly vulnerable to neglect. Recent studies have shown children and young people placed in hotels alone experience neglect and are more prone to abuse.

Older children

Younger children are more likely than older children to be the subject of a child protection plan in England because of neglect, and research suggests that the neglect of older children is more likely to go overlooked.

Neglect in the teenage years is no less harmful yet is often overlooked or misinterpreted by professionals. Some behaviours that have been reported to characterise neglected adolescents are:

• difficulty solving problems
• lack of creativity and language skills
• relatively easy onset of frustration or anger
• poor and/or inconsistent school achievement
• school absences leading to school dropouts
• arriving early to and leaving late from school, avoiding going home
• withdrawn and passive or hyper alert and watchful
• low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, prone to suicide
• inability to trust or overly compliant
• lack of recognition regarding nutrition
• drug and Alcohol abuse and early sexual activity
• anti-social behaviour, young people getting into trouble; and violent conduct
• lack of attention to medical needs

Adolescents may also find their home situation too difficult to bear and end up running away, further putting themselves at risk for even more dangerous situations, for example exploitation, sexual exploitation, and domestic abuse.