PREDICTORS OF CHILD-ABUSE IN MARITALLY VIOLENT FAMILIES

The focus of the present study was twofold: (a) to examine the differe nces between children from maritally violent homes who witnessed marit al violence and those who were both witnesses as well as victims of ab use; and (b) to determine the best predictors of child abuse among mar itally violent families. Participants included 184 children, ages 7 to 13, and their mothers who were residing at battered women shelters. C ompared to children who witnessed interparental violence, children who were both witnesses as well as victims of physical abuse scored signi ficantly higher on externalizing behavior problems. A stepwise logisti cal regression analysis identified numerous predictors of child abuse among maritally violent families. These included a greater frequency a nd severity of marital violence, less marital satisfaction, and a poor er quality of father-child relationship as perceived by the children. In addition, children from families where child abuse occurred were mo re likely to exhibit aggressive behavior problems than children who on ly witnessed marital violence.