NCJ Number
54395
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 95-100
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
IN AN EFFORT TO UNCOVER PREDICTORS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ABUSE AND NEGLECT CHILDREN, A CHILD ABUSE POTENTIAL INVENTORY WAS ADMINISTERED TO 19 ABUSING AND 19 NONABUSING PARENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Abstract
THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH WAS TO CONSTRUCT AND ANALYZE A TEST INSTRUMENT THAT COULD SERVE AS A GUIDE SCREENING DEVICE FOR ASSESSING A CHILD'S ABUSE POTENTIAL. THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROCESS INVOLVED REVIEWING THE LITERATURE IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY PERSONALITY TRAITS CHARACTERISTIC OF CHILD ABUSERS AND CHILD NEGLECTORS. THE REVIEW PRODUCED 334 ITEMS WHICH WERE THEN GROUPED INTO GENERAL AREAS OR CLUSTERS. THESE ITEMS BECAME THE CHILD ABUSE POTENTIAL INVENTORY WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN TO 19 ABUSING PARENTS FROM A SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND TO 19 MATCHED NONABUSING PARENTS. AN ITEM ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY THOSE ITEMS THAT DISCRIMINATED BETWEEN ABUSERS AND NONABUSERS. THE SEVEN BEST ITEMS ACCOUNTED FOR SLIGHTLY OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE VARIANCE, AND THE TOP 25 ITEMS ACCOUNTED FOR 99 PERCENT OF THE VARIANCE. THE SEVEN MOST POWERFUL ITEMS WERE AS FOLLOWS: (1) HAVING A GOOD SEX LIFE; (2) NOT HAVING SOMEONE TO COUNT ON; (3) ENJOYING PETS; (4) FEELING THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE SPOILED; AND (5) NOT HAVING CLOSE FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD; (6) AGREEING THAT BOYS SHOULD NOT LEARN SISSY GAMES; AND (7) BEING A QUIET PERSON. FORWARD STEPWISE REGRESSION AND FACTOR ANALYSIS WERE PERFORMED ON THE TOP 37 ITEMS. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WERE IDENTIFIED TO BE PREDICTIVE OF CHILD ABUSERS: (1) LONELINESS; (2) RIGIDITY; (3) PROBLEMS; AND (4) CONTROL. ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT RIGIDITY AND PROBLEM DIMENSIONS WERE THE BEST PREDICTORS OF ABUSE. A DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS NOT MADE. TABLES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)