Lack of commitment to a relationship, youth, inexperience, lack of family values. Replaying abusive scripts learned when young, Connecting abuse to caring or love. The family violence problem is made worse by family separation, not better. Single mothers are under greater stress, have less time for parenting, thus more likely to resort to violence against children. Lack of a second parent to monitor and ensure non-violent behaviour.
Second partners present a greater danger to the children than bio-dads.
Stress of adversarial sole custody divorce often produces disturbed kids with a rage against society because the loss of the parent that they have suffered. Mandatory education of divorcing parents to minimize the danger of parental alienation. Removing government subsidies to organizations which encourage separation, organizations which have a vested interest in separation. Change tax structure so that intact families and shared parenting arrangements are financially encouraged. When this is done deliberately, out of spite or revenge, children are being abused.