Pregnancy and birth, particularly of a first child, is a period of major lifestyle changes that can be stressful for mothers and fathers.15 — 17 The highest rates of child neglect and violent abuse occur when children are under 5 years of age, 18, 19 with the most serious cases of injury and death caused by parental violence against children occurring when infants are under 1 year of age.20 (bmjopen.bmj.com)
This is to say that studies have shown that children subjected to parental violence at a young age are more likely to continue this violence into their own relationships, as this is what has been learned in their life. (personalityresearch.org)
Relationships Between Adult Women's Mental Health Problems and their Childhood Experiences of Parental Violence and Psychological Aggression. (cambridge.org)