Stress has been identified as a significant factor that can contribute to child abuse. The stresses imposed by language barriers, feelings of isolation, and separation from family and friends, and financial difficulties can cause parents to become frustrated and angry, increasing the potential for abusive behaviour. Tensions between parents and children may arise when parents try to instill traditional cultural norms and values in children who are growing up in the mainstream Canadian culture. Children may possess more extensive knowledge of Canadian culture and laws or have better command of the English or French language and this may upset the traditional balance of power and parental authority in families. Parents may feel their only recourse is physical violence.
Language barriers can pose problems when parents rely on their children for interpretation.
Children may withhold information, which causes feelings of powerlessness in parents. Shifting roles and values affect women, men, children and seniors and can result in intergenerational conflicts and cultural clashes. Children may more readily embrace new cultural values, while other family members struggle to hold on to the value systems of their homeland. Often New Canadians may be unable to practise the profession for which they are qualified as their professional credentials are not recognized. This affects self-esteem, financial and social status of both the individual and the family, and traditional roles in the family.