Convergent validity of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory

The convergent validity of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP) was investigated (N = 254). Because the CAP was designed to measure elements of individual pathology and interactional problems related to physical child abuse, it was predicted that CAP scores would be related to a measure of psychological status, the Mental Health Index (MHI). Specifically, it was predicted that the CAP would be correlated positively with MHI measures of psychological distress and, to a lesser degree, correlated inversely with MHI measures of psychological well-being. Because the CAP measures variables predictive of abusive behavior, a substantial relationship was expected between the CAP and the MHI Loss of Behavioral/Emotional Control scale. All hypotheses were supported.