Franziska Meinck
University of Oxford
Franziska Meinck is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Centre for Evidence-Based Interventions at the University of Oxford. She holds a BA in Social Work, an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Interventions and a DPhil in Social Interventions. Her research focuses on the epidemiology of child abuse in South Africa and on the psychometric properties of child abuse measures.
Objective: In order to prevent child abuse, instruments measuring child abuse potential (CAP) need to be appropriate, reliable and valid. Little is known about the psychometric properties of CAP measures and whether these... [ view full abstract ]
Objective: In order to prevent child abuse, instruments measuring child abuse potential (CAP) need to be appropriate, reliable and valid. Little is known about the psychometric properties of CAP measures and whether these function similarly among mothers and fathers. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in the psychometric properties of the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory (BCAPI) and to examine longitudinal predictors of CAP in a German sample.
Methods: The BCAPI measures risk factors thought to increase CAP. It consists of a child abuse risk scale and two validity indices. Data stemmed from 198 fathers and 198 mothers of children aged 10-21 months who participated in the ‘Kinder in Deutschland (KiD) 0-3’ in-depth study. Families had been stratified according to three levels of psychosocial burden based on prior self-report data. First validity of reporting was checked. Second, factorial structures were examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Third, internal reliability and criterion validity were assessed. Finally, multivariate regressions were employed to investigate longitudinal predictors of CAP in mother and fathers.
Results: 132 fathers and 142 mothers were included in the analysis (invalid 27.4% mothers, 33.0% fathers). EFA established a three factor structure for mothers (Distress/Rigidity/Family Conflict) and two factor structure for fathers (Distress/Rigidity). Using CFA, a two factor structure was confirmed for both mothers (Distress/Family Conflict) and fathers (Distress/Rigidity). For mothers, internal consistency and criterion validity was good. For fathers, both were questionable.
Among mothers, CAP was predicted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), perceived stress and anxiety. Among fathers, CAP was predicted by ACEs and alcohol abuse while education past high school reduced CAP.
Conclusions: Results established factorial structures different to those established in prior research. The BCAPI operated differently across parents with poorer results for fathers. Future research is needed to replicate findings.
