The analysis notes that existing research has many limitations and that child maltreatment is a multidimensional construct that is difficult to study. Overall, it appears that many of the symptoms that children experience after abuse, with the exception of physical injuries and sexual behaviors, are similar to those exhibited by nonabused children exposed to many of the same environmental risk factors. Environmental characteristics such as poverty, the quality of marital relationships, parental psychopathology, and quality of the parent-child relationship, and parenting beliefs are all correlated with the risk of maltreatment. Increased numbers and interaction of environmental risk factors may lead in some cases to an increased severity of their symptoms and problems. A dichotomy typically emerges between parents and children once a family has entered the system in that physically abusive parents are referred for treatment, whereas children are not required to receive therapy unless they are acting in a harmful way. The analysis concludes that secondary prevention efforts such as the current programs to treat perpetrators and victims of abuse must continue, but primary prevention efforts need to expand. 113 references (Author abstract modified)