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Child abuse remains a serious and growing social issue in Malaysia. Reported cases increased dramatically from 276 in 1989 to 8,041 in 2023, highlighting a critical need to understand its underlying drivers and develop effective policy responses. While prior studies have examined factors such as poverty, unemployment, and divorce, the role of economic growth in influencing child abuse has received limited attention. This gap is important, as rapid economic development may create social pressures that affect family dynamics and child welfare.

This study introduces a novel concept known as the Kuznets Curve of Abuse, which represents its main contribution. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Kuznets Curve, the study proposes a non-linear relationship between economic growth and child abuse. Specifically, child abuse is expected to increase during the early stages of economic development and decline at later stages as income levels rise. This new framework offers a fresh theoretical perspective on the interaction between economic progress and social outcomes.To test this idea, the study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach using annual time-series data for Malaysia from 1989 to 2023. GDP per capita is used as a proxy for economic growth, while inflation and unemployment are included as control variables. Child abuse cases are used as the dependent variable. The ARDL model enables the analysis of both short-run and long-run relationships.

The results provide strong support for the Kuznets Curve of Abuse hypothesis. Child abuse tends to increase in the early stage of economic growth, likely due to factors such as work-related stress, urban migration, and reduced parental supervision. However, as income continues to rise, child abuse declines, reflecting improved living conditions, stronger institutions, and greater awareness. In terms of policy, early-stage economic growth should be accompanied by stronger family support systems, including parenting programs, counselling services, and accessible childcare. As development progresses, policies should focus on strengthening child protection institutions and increasing public awareness to ensure long-term child welfare.