CHILD-ABUSE POTENTIAL AND PARENTING STRESS WITHIN MALTREATING FAMILIES

This study examined the relationship between child abuse potential and parenting stress in mothers and fathers receiving services for child maltreatment. Significant differences were found between perpetrating and nonperpetrating parents. Nonperpetrating parents reported more pro blems with family, greater total parenting stress and child-related st ress, and greater stress from child demandingness, adaptability, accep tability and distractibility. No significant gender differences in chi ld abuse potential and parenting stress were found. Aspects of parent related stress moderated the relationship between child related stress and abuse potential. Perceived stress from parenting sense of compete nce was isolated as a variable that significantly increased abuse pote ntial at medium and high levels of child-related stress.