title: Subgroups of physically abusive parents based on cluster analysis of parenting behavior and affect.
abstract: Cluster analysis of observed parenting and self-reported discipline was used to categorize 83 abusive parents into subgroups. A 2-cluster solution received support for validity. Cluster 1 parents were relatively warm, positive, sensitive, and engaged during interactions with their children, whereas Cluster 2 parents were relatively negative, disengaged or intrusive, and insensitive. Further, clusters differed in emotional health, parenting stress, perceptions of children, and problem solving. Children of parents in the 2 clusters differed on several indexes of social adjustment. Cluster 1 parents were similar to nonabusive parents (n = 66) on parenting and related constructs, but Cluster 2 parents differed from nonabusive parents on all clustering variables and many validation variables. Results highlight clinically relevant diversity in parenting practices and functioning among abusive parents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Haskett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith Scott
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabourin Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004644:Emotions; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011678:Punishment