Prediction and explanation of child abuse

Administered the Child Abuse Potential Inventory to 65 abusing and 65 matched nonabusing parents. An item analysis indicated that 77 of the 160 Inventory items significantly discriminated between abusers and nonabusers. A discriminant analysis, which employed the 77 significant items, correctly classified 125, or 96% of the 130 Ss as abusers or nonabusers. Identical results were obtained from a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Principal axis factoring with oblique promax rotations yielded a seven-factor solution with relatively specific dimensions. The seven factors, or dimensions, were: Distress, rigidity, child with problems, problems from family and others, unhappiness, loneliness, and negative concept of child and of self. Further analysis revealed that the rigidity, unhappiness, and distress factors were the most meaningful dimensions in the understanding of why some people abuse children.