Examination of the Relationship Between Parental Satisfaction and Child Maltreatment Potential While Considering Social Desirability

Abstract

Parental dissatisfaction with children appears to be associated with child maltreatment. However, little is known regarding the specific domains of parental dissatisfaction that may increase child maltreatment potential, particularly in perpetrators of child maltreatment where substance abuse is present. In this study, responses to the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI) and a scale measuring parental satisfaction in 11 domains were examined in a sample of 82 mothers who were referred for treatment of substance abuse and child neglect by the local child protective service agency. Results indicated that mothers were relatively most satisfied with their children overall, and least satisfied in domains that were relevant to discipline (i.e., following house rules, compliance, reaction to redirection and punishment, completion of chores). Five of the 11 areas of parental satisfaction that were assessed evidenced negative correlations with child abuse potential, indicating that as satisfaction increased, abuse potential decreased. However, when correlation analyses excluded participants with elevated CAPI Lie scale scores (a measure of social desirability), only overall happiness demonstrated a significant negative correlation with child abuse potential. These results suggest that while associations are present among measures of parental satisfaction and child abuse potential, these associations are moderated to some extent by social desirability, which may help explain some of the inconsistencies reported in prior studies of parental satisfaction and child maltreatment potential.

Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Child Abuse Potential: Temperamental Sensitivity as Moderator?

“…Based on this cut-off score (Bradshaw et al 2011) there were 17 (5.0 %) participants with elevated scores. Because a high score on the Lie scale indicates social desirability, we conducted our analyses with and without these 17 participants.…”

Examining factors associated with faking-good responding on the Child Abuse Potential Inventory

“…Although there is a strong empirical base demonstrating the psychometric properties of the CAPI validity scales, including the Lie Scale and Faking-good Index, few studies have examined clinical applications of the validity scales, such as parental characteristics which may differentiate parents with and without an elevated Lie Scale and Faking-good Index (Bradshaw, Donohue, Cross, Urgelles, & Allen, 2011;Budd et al, 2000;Carr et al, 2005;Costello & McNeil, 2014). Additionally, although the developers of the CAPI have found that about 7-11% of general population parents (i.e., parents who are non-treatment seeking without a report of maltreatment) "fake good" on the CAPI (Milner, 1986), studies using other populations (e.g., parents involved in the child welfare system) have not been able to clearly identify a concrete percentage of individuals who engage in socially desirable responding.…”

“…Additionally, although the developers of the CAPI have found that about 7-11% of general population parents (i.e., parents who are non-treatment seeking without a report of maltreatment) "fake good" on the CAPI (Milner, 1986), studies using other populations (e.g., parents involved in the child welfare system) have not been able to clearly identify a concrete percentage of individuals who engage in socially desirable responding. In fact, across studies, the range of invalid profiles has varied from 19%-58% (see Bradshaw et al, 2011;Budd et al, 2000;Carr et al, 2005;Costello & McNeil, 2014).…”

“…There have been no published studies utilizing the CAPI which have focused solely on treatment-seeking, non-maltreating parents. Participants have either been undergraduates or "general population" parents (Milner & Crouch, 1997;1985b) or parents who already involved in the child welfare system (Bradshaw et al, 2011;Budd et al, 2000;Carr et al, 2005;Costello & McNeil, 2014). Because there is a gap in this literature, it has only been possible to report on parents who are on opposite ends of a continuum.…”

“…However, without knowledge as to what constitutes invalid responding during PCAs, professionals are left to tease apart these behaviors in an already highly stressful and complex situation. Currently, there have only been four published studies directly examining factors associated with socially desirable responding using the CAPI Lie Scale and/or Faking-good Index (Bradshaw et al, 2011;Budd et al, 2000;Carr et al, 2005;Costello & McNeil, 2014), and these studies are described below. Although data from each investigation have provided a solid foundation on which to build further research, the number of studies is low, and there are limitations present in each, proving the need for more research in this area.…”