Abuse is the harmful or cruel treatment of another person.

Child abuse is one type of abuse which is the harmful treatment of a minor.

Spouse abuse is the harmful treatment of a husband or wife.

Parent abuse is the harmful treatment of a parent.

Elder abuse is the harmful treatment of an aged family member.

Abandonment is when a person chooses to give up or refuse responsibility for those in his or her care.

Parents can abandon their children by their physical or emotional absence or both.

This abandonment can cause pain, suffering, and confusion for the child being abandoned.

Teens who live with an abusive family may be afraid and confused, and they may often blame themselves.

Abuse and Abandonment