Elsevier

Child Abuse & Neglect

Volume 19, Issue 12, December 1995, Pages 1483-1495
Child Abuse & Neglect

Child abuse potential inventory and parenting behavior: Relationships with high-risk correlates

https://doi.org/10.1016/0145-2134(95)00107-4Get rights and content

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the construct validity of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory by comparing maltreating and high-risk parents' CAP Inventory abuse scores to their behavior during interactions with their children. A second purpose was to determine the degree to which CAP Inventory scores and parenting behavior were related to several known correlates of abuse, as measured by parent and teacher reports. Participants (n = 41) included abusive and high-risk parents and their children referred to a treatment group. Correlational analyses revealed that CAP Inventory scores and observed parenting style yielded highly related findings, supporting construct validity of the CAP Inventory. However, the CAP Inventory and observed behavior index showed a different pattern of relationships to the risk correlates. Implications for assessment of risk status are discussed and recommendations are provided for continued research.

Résumé

Le but principal de cette recherche était de préciser la validité de l'inventaire Child Abuse Potential en comparant d'une part, les scores des parents maltraitants et ceux des parents maltraitants et ceux des parents qui présentaient la possibilité de devenir maltraitants, et d'autre part, le comportement des deux groupes de parents envers leurs enfants. Comme deuxième but, on se proposait de déterminer combien les scores de l'inventaire et le comportement des parents vis-è-vis de leurs enfants se mesuraient contre certains facteurs reconnus comme étant reliés à la maltraitance. Ces deniers ont été cotés par des parents et des enseignants. Les sujets de l'etude comprenaient des parents et enfants pour qui on avait recommandé un traitement en groupe. Une analyse des divers facteurs indiquent que les scores de l'inventaire et le comportement observé sont fort semblables, confirmant par conséquent, la validité de l'inventaire. Toutefois, on a noté des divergences par rapport aux facteurs de risques. L'article discute de l'évaluation des facteurs de risque et recommande de poursuivre les recherches en ce sens.

Resumen

El objetivo principal de esta investigación era examinar la validez interna del “Child Abuse Potential Inventory” al comparar los puntajes del CAP Inventory de padres maltratantes y de alto riesgo con su conducta durante las interacciones con sus hijos (as). Un segundo objetivo era determinar el grado en que los puntajes del CAP Inventory y la conducta parental estaban relacionados con varios correlatos conocidos del abuso, medidos a través de reportes de padres y maestros. Los participantes (n = 41) incluyeron padres abusivos y de alto riesgo con sus hijos (as) referidos a tratamiento de grupo. Los análisis de las correlaciones revelaron que los puntajes del CAP Inventory y los estilos parentales observados obtuvieron resultados altamente correlacionados, apoyando la validez interna del CAP Inventory. Sin embargo, el CAP Inventory y el indice de la conducta obsevada mostró un patrón diferente de relaciones con los correlatos de riesgo. Se discutieron las implicaciones para la evaluación del status del riesgo y se ofrecen recomendaciones para continuar las investigaciones.

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