There are generally ten recognized categories of abuse according to adult safeguarding guidance, which include:
- Physical abuse
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Financial or material abuse
- Modern slavery
- Discriminatory abuse
- Organisational or institutional abuse
- Neglect or acts of omission
- Self-neglect
These categories cover a wide range of harmful behaviors, from physical violence and sexual assault to financial exploitation, emotional harm, neglect, and abuse related to discrimination or institutional settings
. In child protection contexts, abuse is often categorized into four types: neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse
. Some sources also highlight additional forms like technological abuse (use of technology to control or stalk) and sexual exploitation, especially in intimate partner violence contexts
. Overall, the most comprehensive framework identifies ten distinct categories of abuse primarily used in adult safeguarding frameworks
