Child maltreatment is a complex problem with a multitude of risk factors and protective factors that impact the likelihood that it will occur in any given situation. This makes it challenging to answer questions about what causes child maltreatment. The ecological/transactional model attempts to explain both the causes of child maltreatment and the impact it has on children by examining multiple contexts rather than trying to find a singular causal factor. Furthermore, the theory stresses bidirectional influences within each context and takes into account a developmental perspective.