Parenting behavior and emotional status of physically abusive mothers.

Administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Cornell Medical Index (CMI) to 8 physically abusive mothers (mean age 27.5 yrs) from low-SES families, 8 matched low-SES control mothers (mean age 26.5 yrs), and 8 matched middle-SES control mothers (mean age 32.9 yrs). Results show that abusive Ss differed from both control groups on the BDI and the Emotional Distress and Physical Symptoms scales of the CMI. Marginally significant differences were found on the Trait Anxiety scale of the STAI. No significant differences were found between control groups. Although direct observation in the home revealed no significant differences among the 3 groups on any measure of child behavior, the abusive Ss engaged in a far higher percentage of negative physical behaviors and a lower percentage of positive behaviors toward their children than did either of the control groups. A model of child abuse is suggested that proposes that parents who are in greater emotional and somatic distress may have a lower threshold for child misbehavior and may react more punitively to it. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)