Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Examination of Life Satisfaction, Child Maltreatment Potential and Substance Use in Mothers Referred for Treatment by Child Protective Services for Child Neglect and Substance Abuse: Implications for Intervention Planning

  • Published:
Applied Research in Quality of Life Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is evidence to suggest mothers who are served by child protective service agencies are relatively dissatisfied in their lives, leading some investigators to conclude life dissatisfaction may be associated with child maltreatment. To assist in better understanding this relationship the Life Satisfaction Scale for Caregivers (LSSC) was psychometrically developed in a sample of 72 mothers who were referred for behavioral treatment for child neglect and substance abuse by caseworkers from a local child protective service agency. The LSSC was developed to assess mothers’ happiness in nine domains (family, friendships, employment/work, spirituality/religion, safety, sex life/dating, ability to avoid drugs, ability to avoid alcohol, control over one’s own life). Results indicated two factors that appeared to be relevant to Social Satisfaction and Safety and Control Satisfaction. Higher satisfaction scores on both of these scales were negatively associated with child maltreatment potential and substance use at baseline (i.e., positive urinalysis test). Mothers who exposed their children to substances in utero or in infancy (a distinct type of child neglect) were found to report higher satisfaction scores on the LSSC than other types of child neglect. Hispanic-American, African-American, and Caucasian women reported similar levels of life satisfaction. Application of the LSSC as a non-stigmatizing, wellness-focused instrument is discussed within the context of intervention planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcoholics Anonymous. (2001). Alcoholics anonymous (4th ed.). New York: A.A. World Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azrin, N. H., McMahon, P., Donohue, B., Besalel, V., Lapinski, K., Kogan, E., Acierno, R., & Galloway, E. (1994). Behavior therapy of drug abuse: a controlled outcome study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 857–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Best, D., Savic, M., Beckwith, M., Honor, S., Karpusheff, J., & Lubman, D. (2013). The role of abstinence and activity in the quality of life of drug users engaged in treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 45, 273–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, B. E., Williams, L. R., & Shafer, M. S. (2012). Methamphetamine-involved parents in the child welfare system: Are they more challenging than other substance involved parents? Journal of Public Child Welfare, 6, 280–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, K. L. (2012). Comparison of parent and child reports on child maltreatment in a representative household sample in Hong Kong. Journal of Family Violence, 27, 11–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlemagne-Badal, S. J., Lee, J. W., Butler, T. L., & Fraser, G. E. (2014). Conceptual domains included in wellbeing and life satisfaction instruments: a review. Applied Research in Quality of Life.. doi:10.1007/s11482-014-9306-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., & Lin, S. (2014). The latent profiles of life domain importance and satisfaction in a quality of life scale. Social Indicators Research, 116, 429–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Beyers, W., Boone, L., Deci, E. L., Kaap-Deeder, J., & Verstuyf, J. (2014). Basic psychological need satisfaction, need frustration, and need strength across four cultures. Motivation and Emotion. doi:10.1007/s11031-014-9450-1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clements, M., Martin, S., Cassil, A., & Soliman, N. (2011). Declines in marital satisfaction among new mothers: broad strokes versus fine details. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 13–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colton, M., Drakeford, M., Roberts, S., Scholte, E., Casas, F., & Williams, M. (1997). Child welfare and stigma: principles into practice. Childhood: A Global Journal of Child Research, 4, 265–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comrey, A. L., & Lee, H. B. (1992). A first course in factor analysis (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (1991). The comprehensive quality of life scale—intellectual disability: an instrument under development. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 17, 259–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A., McCabe, M. P., Romeo, Y., & Gullone, E. (1994). The comprehensive quality of life scale (ComQol): instrument development and psychometric evaluation on college staff and students. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 54, 372–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decato, L., Donohue, B., Azrin, N. H., Teichner, G., & Crum, T. (2002). Adolescents and their parents: a critical review of measures to assess their satisfaction with one another. Clinical Psychology Review, 22, 833–874.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2004). Self-determination theory and basic need satisfaction: understanding human development in positive psychology. Ricerche Di Psicologia, 27, 23–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dew, J., & Wilcox, W. (2011). If momma ain’t happy: explaining declines in marital satisfaction among new mothers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Inglehart, R., & Tay, L. (2013). Theory and validity of life satisfaction scales. Social Indicators Research, 112, 497–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donohue, B., Teichner, G., Azrin, N., Weintraub, N., Crum, T. A., Murphy, L., & Silver, N. (2003). Initial reliability and validity of the life satisfaction scale for problem youth in a sample of drug abusing and conduct disordered youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12, 453–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donohue, B., Azrin, N. H., Bradshaw, K., Cross, C., Van Hasselt, V. B., Urgelles, J., Romero, V., Hill, H., & Allen, D. (2014). A controlled evaluation of family behavior therapy in concurrent child neglect and drug abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82, 706–720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • First, M. B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M., & Williams, J. B. W. (1996). Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV-TR axis I disorders, research version (SCID-I). New York, NY: Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullone, E., & Cummins, R. A. (1999). The comprehensive quality of life scale: a psychometric evaluation with an adolescent sample. Behaviour Change, 16, 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanlon, T. E., O’Grady, K. E., Bennett-Sears, T., & Callaman, J. M. (2005). Incarcerated drug- abusing mothers: their characteristics and vulnerability. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 31, 59–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, S. (2012). Parental satisfaction with center-based child care and life satisfaction: exploring the effects of parenting stress. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A, 72, 3525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (1991). Initial development of the Students’ LSSPY. School Psychology International, 12, 231–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, L. (2008). The prevalence and characteristics of substance abusers in a child protective service sample. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 42, 33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, S. J. (1998). Stress and coping behaviors of substance‐abusing mothers. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 3(3), 103–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, B., Scheiner, M., & Campbell, D. (2010). Ethical issues and addiction. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 29, 164–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lubin, B., & van Whitlock, R. (2004). Psychometric properties of the brief life satisfaction scales. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60, 11–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milner, J. (1986). The child abuse potential inventory manual. DeKalb, IL: Psytec Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner, J. (1990). An interpretive manual for the child abuse potential inventory. Dekalb, IL: Psytec Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner, J. S. (2007). Child physical abuse assessment: perpetrator evaluation. In J. Campbell (Ed.), Assessing dangerousness (Violence by batterers and child abusers 2nd ed., pp. 45–70). New York: Springer Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ondersma, S. J., Halinka Malcoeb, L., & Simpson, S. M. (2001). Child protective services’ response to prenatal drug exposure: results from a nationwide survey. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 657–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, C. C., Sanson-Fisher, R. R., & Carey, M. M. (2013). Measuring psychosocial outcomes: Is the consumer or the professional the best judge? European Journal of Cancer Care, 22, 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennar, A. L., Shapiro, A. F., & Krysik, J. (2012). Drug endangered children: examining children removed from methamphetamine laboratories. Children and Youth Services Review, 34, 1777–1785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petry, N. M., Andrade, L. F., Rash, C. J., & Cherniack, M. G. (2014). Engaging in job-related activities is associated with reductions in employment problems and improvements in quality of life in substance abusing patients. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 28, 268–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, K. M. (2013). Multiple motherhoods: An examination of mother status on life satisfaction and psychological distress. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A, 74.

  • Scafidi, F. A., Field, T., Prodromidis, M., & Rahdert, E. (1996). Psychosocial stressors of drug-abusing disadvantaged adolescent mothers. Adolescence, 32(125), 93–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholte, E. M., Colton, M., Casas, F., Drakeford, M., Roberts, S., & Williams, M. (1999). Perceptions of stigma and user involvement in child welfare services. British Journal of Social Work, 29, 373–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schueller, S. M. (2009). Promoting wellness: integrating community and positive psychology. Journal of Community Psychology, 37, 922–937.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligson, J. L., Huebner, E., & Valois, R. F. (2003). Preliminary validation of the brief multidimensional Students’ life satisfaction scale (BMSLSS). Social Indicators Research, 61, 121–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. W., & Larson, M. (2003). Quality of life assessments by adult substance abusers receiving publicly funded treatment in Massachusetts. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 29, 323–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stowman, S. A., & Donohue, B. (2005). Assessing child neglect: a review of standardized measures. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10, 491–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strom, R. D., Strom, P. S., & Beckert, T. E. (2008). Comparing black, Hispanic, and white mothers with a national standard of parenting. Adolescence, 43, 525–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sumnall, H., Bellis, M., Hughes, K., Calafat, A., Juan, M., & Mendes, F. (2010). A choice between fun or health? relationships between nightlife substance use, happiness, and mental well-being. Journal of Substance Use, 15, 89–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuicomepee, A., & Romano, J. L. (2005). Psychological well-being of Thai drug users: implications for prevention. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 27, 431–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven, R. (1996). Developments in satisfaction research. Social Indicators Research, 37, 1–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabriskie, R. B., & Ward, P. J. (2013). Satisfaction with family life scale. Marriage & Family Review, 49, 446–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant awarded to Brad Donohue from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1R01DA20548-01A1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-5030, USA

    Christopher P. Plant, Brad Donohue & Jason M. Holland

Authors
  1. Christopher P. Plant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brad Donohue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jason M. Holland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brad Donohue.

Appendix

Appendix

Life Satisfaction Scale for Caregivers (LSSC)

Instructions: Please circle the percentage score that best describes how happy you are in each of the areas that are listed in the left column. A 100 % means you are completely happy, and 0 % means you are completely unhappy. Higher numbers mean that you are happier in the respective area

Area

 

1. Friendships

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

2. Family

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

3. Spirituality/Religion

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

4. Safety

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

5. Employment

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

6. Sex life/dating

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

7. Ability to avoid drugs

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

8. Ability to avoid alcohol

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

9. Amount of control you have over what happens in your life

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

10. Overall life satisfaction

Unhappy

0 % 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 %

Happy

Assessment Ending Time:________

☐ Do NOT share the information from this assessment with significant other

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Plant, C.P., Donohue, B. & Holland, J.M. Examination of Life Satisfaction, Child Maltreatment Potential and Substance Use in Mothers Referred for Treatment by Child Protective Services for Child Neglect and Substance Abuse: Implications for Intervention Planning. Applied Research Quality Life 11, 805–816 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-015-9398-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-015-9398-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation