The relationship between mothers' child abuse potential and current mental health symptoms: implications for screening and referral.
This analysis examined data from mothers at 2 of the 9 sites participating in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) national Women Co-occurring Disorders and Violence Study (WCDVS). According to previous literature, it was hypothesized that women in the WCDVS would be at high risk of perpetrating child abuse. This research examined mothers' potential for physical child abuse and assessed the association between child abuse potential, current mental health symptoms, alcohol and drug use severity, and trauma. Results revealed that participants had significant potential for child abuse. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that current mental health symptoms were the strongest predictor of mothers' scores on the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory. This study highlights the important relationships between commonly used instruments across the mental health, substance, and child welfare fields and the potential dual use of these instruments. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Rinehart
Deborah J
DJ
Colorado Social Research Associates, Thronton, CO 80260, USA. drinehart@ahinc.org
Becker
Marion A
MA
Buckley
Pamela R
PR
Dailey
Kathy
K
Reichardt
Charles S
CS
Graeber
Carla
C
VanDeMark
Nancy R
NR
Brown
Ellen
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D001524:Behavioral Medicine; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*