Child Abuse

Child Abuse: Child Abuse: Prediction and Prediction and PreventionPrevention

Stress and Anger as Contextual Factors and Stress and Anger as Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Schemas: Predicting Preexisting Cognitive Schemas: Predicting

Parental Child Maltreatment RiskParental Child Maltreatment Riskbyby

Christina M. Rodriguez and Michael J. Christina M. Rodriguez and Michael J. RichardsonRichardson

The Effect Of Alaska’s Home Visitation The Effect Of Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Families On Trends Program For High-Risk Families On Trends

In Abuse And NeglectIn Abuse And Neglectbyby

Bradford D. GessnerBradford D. Gessner

Child Abuse: Child Abuse: Prediction and Prediction and PreventionPrevention

Reviewed byReviewed by

AABDA J. KHAN AABDA J. KHAN

HEIDI M. RAFTER HEIDI M. RAFTER

DEVERY W. MCDONALDDEVERY W. MCDONALD

PSYC 308PSYC 308

UMBCUMBC

IntroductionIntroduction““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Schemas”Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Schemas”

This study examines aspects of This study examines aspects of Social Social Information Processing (SIP)Information Processing (SIP) theory in theory in predicting physical maltreatment risk in a predicting physical maltreatment risk in a community sample. community sample.


What is SIP Theory?What is SIP Theory?

• The SIP theory proposes that cognitive The SIP theory proposes that cognitive processes within parents potentiate their processes within parents potentiate their risk to abuse risk to abuse

• At-risk or abusive parents report At-risk or abusive parents report maladaptive cognitions pertaining to maladaptive cognitions pertaining to parent-child interactions, and negative parent-child interactions, and negative attributions about their children’s behaviorattributions about their children’s behavior


Four Stages of Information ProcessingFour Stages of Information Processing

• Stage 1=Stage 1= Parents perception of a new Parents perception of a new event (inaccurate perceptions of a event (inaccurate perceptions of a parent-child situation are associated parent-child situation are associated with abuse risk)with abuse risk)

• Stage 2=Stage 2= Parents’ expectations, Parents’ expectations, interpretations, and evaluations of the interpretations, and evaluations of the situation affect their likelihood to abusesituation affect their likelihood to abuse


Four Stages of Information ProcessingFour Stages of Information Processing

• Stage 3= Parents integrate all available Stage 3= Parents integrate all available information from the information from the situation and consider their alternative situation and consider their alternative response options.response options.

• Stage 4= Parents implement their Stage 4= Parents implement their selected discipline response and monitor selected discipline response and monitor their own behavior (abusive parents their own behavior (abusive parents experience difficulty monitoring the experience difficulty monitoring the escalating severity of their physical escalating severity of their physical discipline. discipline.


HypothesisHypothesis

Preexisting cognitive Preexisting cognitive schemas can predict schemas can predict child abuse beyond the child abuse beyond the contextual factors of contextual factors of parental stress or anger.parental stress or anger.

MethodMethod““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive

Schemas”Schemas”

Independent variable #1: Independent variable #1: Contextual Factors-Contextual Factors-

• Parental stress parents experienceParental stress parents experience

– Parents experiencing greater stress display more Parents experiencing greater stress display more controlling, abusive and punitive parenting behaviors.controlling, abusive and punitive parenting behaviors.

• Parental anger & hostility proposed as markers of Parental anger & hostility proposed as markers of negative affect that can influence the SIP modelnegative affect that can influence the SIP model

– Inability to manage anger has been implicated in abuse Inability to manage anger has been implicated in abuse riskrisk

– The extent of physical punishment a parents delivers is The extent of physical punishment a parents delivers is also associated with the degree to which a parent felt also associated with the degree to which a parent felt angered by the child angered by the child


SchemasSchemas

Measures of Contextual FactorsMeasures of Contextual Factors• Parental stressParental stress

Parenting Stress Index (PSI)Parenting Stress Index (PSI)

101 items on a 5-point Likert-type scale101 items on a 5-point Likert-type scale

• Parental angerParental angerState-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI)State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI)

44 items on a 4-point Likert-type scale44 items on a 4-point Likert-type scale



Independent variable #2: Independent variable #2: Parenting-related Preexisting Cognitive Schema Parenting-related Preexisting Cognitive Schema (beliefs about discipline, their child, the nature of parenting and (beliefs about discipline, their child, the nature of parenting and

parent-child interactions)parent-child interactions)

• External locus of controlExternal locus of control• Understanding of developmentally appropriate Understanding of developmentally appropriate

normsnorms• Empathic perspective takingEmpathic perspective taking• Parental positive attachment to a childParental positive attachment to a child

Measures of Preexisting SchemaMeasures of Preexisting Schema

• External locus of controlExternal locus of controlInterpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); 28-item measure of empathyInterpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); 28-item measure of empathy

• Developmentally appropriate normsDevelopmentally appropriate norms Child Development Questionnaire (CDQ); Child Development Questionnaire (CDQ); Parents indicate age of 40 developmental abilitiesParents indicate age of 40 developmental abilities

• Empathic perspective takingEmpathic perspective takingParent Attribution Test (PAT); Parent Attribution Test (PAT); Parents rate success or failure of child interactionsParents rate success or failure of child interactions

• Parental positive attachmentParental positive attachment Parental Attachment Level (PAL); 11 items on a 5-point Likert-Parental Attachment Level (PAL); 11 items on a 5-point Likert-scalescale

MethodMethod“Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive “Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive

SchemasSchemas””



Dependent Variables and MeasuresDependent Variables and Measures• Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI):Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI):

77 items --screen for physical child abuse risk77 items --screen for physical child abuse risk

• Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-PC)Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-PC)Frequency of specific behaviors implemented during Frequency of specific behaviors implemented during

parent-child conflictsparent-child conflicts

• The Parenting ScaleThe Parenting Scale30 items on a 7-point scale to identify dysfunctional 30 items on a 7-point scale to identify dysfunctional

disciplinary style.disciplinary style.



• ParticipantsParticipants– 115 parents of children ages 4-12 (M= 7.44 115 parents of children ages 4-12 (M= 7.44

years) from a preschool and elementary school years) from a preschool and elementary school in the Mountain West in the Mountain West

– 92% White, 6.1 % Hispanic, 1% Native American, 92% White, 6.1 % Hispanic, 1% Native American, 1% other 1% other

– n n = 86 mothers, = 86 mothers, nn = 29 fathers = 29 fathers– Mean age of Parents = 37.62 yearsMean age of Parents = 37.62 years– Majority reported living with a partnerMajority reported living with a partner– Raising average of 3 childrenRaising average of 3 children– Mean annual income of $ 50,067 Mean annual income of $ 50,067

Median $45,000Median $45,000



• ProceduresProcedures– Parents recruited from child’s school through a Parents recruited from child’s school through a

consent form that was sent home about a study consent form that was sent home about a study on parenting and disciplineon parenting and discipline

– Interested parents returned the consent forms Interested parents returned the consent forms with contact information; one-third returnedwith contact information; one-third returned

– Session scheduled in their home with those who Session scheduled in their home with those who responded responded

– All instructions and items delivered on laptop All instructions and items delivered on laptop computercomputer

– Responses entered anonymously and privatelyResponses entered anonymously and privately– Parents received $10 compensationParents received $10 compensation

ResultsResults““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive


• Preliminary correlational analyses indicated the age of Preliminary correlational analyses indicated the age of parent, number of children in family, and parents’ parent, number of children in family, and parents’ number of years of education were unrelatednumber of years of education were unrelated

• CTS Psychological Aggression scores was significantly CTS Psychological Aggression scores was significantly negatively correlated with age of parent meaning negatively correlated with age of parent meaning younger parents reported using more psychological younger parents reported using more psychological aggression tacticsaggression tactics

• No significant associations between income and an No significant associations between income and an predictorspredictors

• No substantive differences between groups to be more No substantive differences between groups to be more likely to exceed developmental normslikely to exceed developmental norms

• No differences in parents living with partner and no No differences in parents living with partner and no partnerpartner

ResultsResults““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive

SchemasSchemas

• Parent’s knowledge of developmental norms was Parent’s knowledge of developmental norms was unrelated to predictorsunrelated to predictors

• Parenting stress and anger expression we associated Parenting stress and anger expression we associated with a number of predictorswith a number of predictors

• External locus of control orientation and empathic External locus of control orientation and empathic perspective-taking ability was also associated with a perspective-taking ability was also associated with a number of predictorsnumber of predictors

• CAPI Abuse Scale scores for abuse potential were CAPI Abuse Scale scores for abuse potential were significantly associated with stress, anger, empathy, significantly associated with stress, anger, empathy, locus-of-control orientation, and attachment locus-of-control orientation, and attachment measures.measures.

• CTS-PC Psychological Aggression subscale had several CTS-PC Psychological Aggression subscale had several strong effects with predictors and Neglect scalestrong effects with predictors and Neglect scale

DiscussionDiscussion ““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive

Schemas”Schemas”• Findings partially support the hypothesis that preexisting Findings partially support the hypothesis that preexisting

schemas can help predict physical child abuse beyond schemas can help predict physical child abuse beyond contextual variablescontextual variables

• Parents’ stress and anger play a critical role across the three Parents’ stress and anger play a critical role across the three measures of parent-child aggression riskmeasures of parent-child aggression risk

• Among the cognitive schemas, external locus-of-control Among the cognitive schemas, external locus-of-control orientations were correlated to all three measures of parent-orientations were correlated to all three measures of parent-child aggression riskchild aggression risk

• Empathetic perspective taking predicted overreactive discipline Empathetic perspective taking predicted overreactive discipline while perceived attachment predicted child abuse potential while perceived attachment predicted child abuse potential

• In contrast, development expectations were not significantly In contrast, development expectations were not significantly associated with the dependent variables or predictorsassociated with the dependent variables or predictors

DiscussionDiscussion ““Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive Contextual Factors and Preexisting Cognitive

Schemas”Schemas”• The study is limited by the nature of the parents The study is limited by the nature of the parents

who volunteered.who volunteered.

• Future research should consider single parents Future research should consider single parents with more ethnic and racial diversitywith more ethnic and racial diversity

• Study relied on parent self-reporting measuresStudy relied on parent self-reporting measures

• Study was limited to physical child abuse. Study was limited to physical child abuse.

• Correlational nature of the research design Correlational nature of the research design cannot address causality.cannot address causality.

IntroductionIntroduction““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk

Families”Families”

• Reasons for study—Healthy Families Alaska Program Reasons for study—Healthy Families Alaska Program – Home visitation program designed in 1995 to decrease Home visitation program designed in 1995 to decrease

child abuse and neglect and improve other child health child abuse and neglect and improve other child health outcomesoutcomes

– After several years, state legislature required an evaluation After several years, state legislature required an evaluation of the programof the program

– Several studies from other areas have found that home Several studies from other areas have found that home visitation programs could decrease the risk of child abuse visitation programs could decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect under some circumstancesand neglect under some circumstances

– Primary goal of program was to decrease the occurrence of Primary goal of program was to decrease the occurrence of abuse and neglect among high-risk familiesabuse and neglect among high-risk families

IntroductionIntroduction““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk

FamiliesFamilies

• HypothesisHypothesis– Among children less Among children less

than 2 years of age, than 2 years of age, enrollment would have enrollment would have a measurable impact on a measurable impact on substantiated physical substantiated physical abuse rates when abuse rates when compared to unenrolledcompared to unenrolled

– Program would impact Program would impact abuse and neglect abuse and neglect referral rates and referral rates and neglect substantiationneglect substantiation

MethodMethod““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk


• Enrollment status was linked to birth certificates files for Enrollment status was linked to birth certificates files for 1996-2002 which were linked to child protective services 1996-2002 which were linked to child protective services database for 1996-2004database for 1996-2004

• Families selected for study based Kempe Family Stress Families selected for study based Kempe Family Stress Checklist score Checklist score

• Families divided into two high-risk groups:Families divided into two high-risk groups:– Children born pre-term (Children born pre-term (n n = 529)= 529)– Children of single mothers with prenatal alcohol useChildren of single mothers with prenatal alcohol use ((nn = 499) = 499)

• All children followed through the study databases until age All children followed through the study databases until age 22

MethodMethod““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk


• Five outcomes evaluatedFive outcomes evaluated– CPS referralsCPS referrals– Referral for neglectReferral for neglect– Referral for abuseReferral for abuse– Referral for substantiated Referral for substantiated

neglectneglect– Referral for substantiated Referral for substantiated

abuse abuse

• Number of referrals Number of referrals compared to non-compared to non-enrolled childrenenrolled children

ResultsResults““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk


• Physical abuse referrals Physical abuse referrals among enrolled children among enrolled children decreased from 73 to 42 per decreased from 73 to 42 per 1000 child years of follow-up1000 child years of follow-up

• All of this decrease occurred All of this decrease occurred among children who among children who received 20 or more visitsreceived 20 or more visits

• Enrolled children had Enrolled children had modest decrease in the modest decrease in the proportion with proportion with substantiated neglect but no substantiated neglect but no difference in the proportion difference in the proportion with neglect referral or with neglect referral or physical abuse referral or physical abuse referral or substantiationsubstantiation

DiscussionDiscussion““Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk Alaska’s Home Visitation Program For High-Risk


• Little evidence that the program had measurable Little evidence that the program had measurable impact on child maltreatment outcomesimpact on child maltreatment outcomes

• Similar decreases were seen in unenrolled childrenSimilar decreases were seen in unenrolled children

• Greater number of home visitation were not Greater number of home visitation were not correlated with fewer abuse outcomescorrelated with fewer abuse outcomes

• Study was not randomizedStudy was not randomized

• Willingness of people to refer children to CPS may Willingness of people to refer children to CPS may be influenced by other characteristics other than be influenced by other characteristics other than occurrence of actual abuse occurrence of actual abuse

QuestionsQuestions• Why were these Why were these

studies conducted? studies conducted?

• What purpose do they What purpose do they serve in dealing with serve in dealing with the issue of child the issue of child maltreatment?maltreatment?

• Both of these studies Both of these studies share a common goal, share a common goal, what is it?what is it?

Child Abuse

Self Improvement

Transcript of Child Abuse