What kinds of violence and abuse affect vulnerable people?

Personal violence and abuse are facts of life for all adults to some extent, but research suggests that risks loom larger for less advantaged groups whether on the basis of class, poverty, gender, sexual orientation, disability and/or mental ill-health. But it seems as if while these adults face considerably more risk, they are often less able to draw on personal or community resources or to seek remedies through mainstream helping agencies or the civil or criminal justice systems.