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Family Dysfunction and Social Isolation as Moderators Between Stress and Child Physical Abuse Risk

  • RELATIONSHIP, FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT PREDICT BEHAVIOR
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Abstract

Stress is a significant contributor to child physical maltreatment risk. Family and social supports are expected, but less studied, risk factors. Little empirical support clarifies the interactive influence on abuse risk for non-abusive parents. This study examined whether the stress-abuse risk relation was moderated by family dysfunction and social isolation. Subjective appraisals of these factors were administered to 95 community mothers. After creating composite scores using factor loadings from a CFA, multiple regression analyses were conducted to predict abuse risk. As expected, stress predicted abuse risk, with social isolation and, to a lesser extent, family dysfunction serving as moderators. Perceived stress and dysfunctional supports are important, interactive predictors of abuse risk. Future directions consider interactions within other ecological levels.

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  1. Christina M. Rodriguez

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

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  1. Psychology Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA

    Meagan C. Tucker & Christina M. Rodriguez

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  1. Meagan C. Tucker
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  2. Christina M. Rodriguez
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Correspondence to Meagan C. Tucker.

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Tucker, M.C., Rodriguez, C.M. Family Dysfunction and Social Isolation as Moderators Between Stress and Child Physical Abuse Risk. J Fam Viol 29, 175–186 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9567-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9567-0

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