HEIGHTENED CHILD PHYSICAL ABUSE POTENTIAL - CHILD, PARENT, AND FAMILYDYSFUNCTION

This study evaluates child, parent, and family factors related to pare nts' heightened potential for child physical abuse. Mothers (n = 113) of child psychiatric patients and nonpatients (ages 6-13) were classif ied as being at low, moderate, or high risk for child abuse. Group com parisons revealed that high-abuse-potential mothers reported greater c hild externalizing and depressive symptoms, child rejection, personal psychological dysfunction, stressful life events, and family problems, but there were few differences in reports of parent management practi ces or family violence. Child reports indicated a few group difference s in child dysfunction and violence. The results are in accord with in teractional models and extend prior research by elaborating possible c orrelates of physical abuse.