NCJ Number
147505
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 261-269
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Thirty-seven abusive mothers in Hong Kong were matched on demographic and socioeconomic factors with a comparison sample known to be nonabusive to examine the role of parenting stress and maternal social support in child abuse.
Abstract
The mothers were assessed using a demographic questionnaire, the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and the Maternal Support Index (MSSI). Results revealed that the two groups were comparable demographically in all ways but one: the abusive mothers had significantly more children. In addition, the abusive mothers showed significantly more stress on total PSI scores, as well as in all three of the subsets: Child Domain, Parent Domain, and Life Stress. The abusive mothers scored lower in all seven items on the MSSI; differences were significant for the total and four subsets, including the number of people to count on in time of need, perceived neighborhood support, satisfaction with spousal relationship, and degree of community involvement. The greatest percentage (74.32 percent) of correct predictions of child abuse was achieved by combining the number of children, the Life Stress Scale, and the MSSI. Findings suggested the desirability of more public education on family planning and greater attention to fostering better spousal relationships, neighborhood support, and a social network in which emergency and community support is available. Tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)