Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Committee Chair

Cheryl McNeil

Committee Chair

Cheryl McNeil

Abstract

This study examined the relation between parental behaviors (i.e., amount of interaction, positive behavior, aversive behavior, controlling behavior), child abuse potential (as measured by the Child Abuse Potential Inventory), documented history of child physical abuse, and demographic variables (e.g., socioeconomic status) among mothers of children with disruptive behavior problems. Results indicated that socio-economic status and child abuse potential were significant predictors of substantiated history of abuse. Further, only the presence of a documented history of abuse was significantly related to child abuse potential scores. Although the hypotheses that positive, aversive, and controlling behavior would be predictive of child abuse potential and abuse status were not supported, abuse status was significantly correlated with total verbalizations such that the presence of an abuse report was associated with less verbalizations from mother to child. Limitations and clinical implications of the current study are discussed followed by recommendations for future research.

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