The purpose of the current study is to examine the association between the higher-order
scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition, Restructured
Form (MMPI-2-RF) and the DSM-oriented scales of the Achenbach System of
Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA), Adult Self-Report with physical child abuse
potential, as measured by the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP). Abuse and neglect
has been shown to have serious and long-lasting negative effects on children’s mental
health. Current research has identified a variety of predictors of child abuse potential.
However, no previous studies could be found that have examined the correlation between
scores on the MMPI-2-RF and the ASEBA with child abuse potential. The participants
were 177 parents and caregivers who were court-ordered by the Georgia Division of
Family and Children Services to receive a psychiatric evaluation in north Atlanta.
Results show that males and females significantly differed on several of the predictor
variables, and CAP scores were significantly correlated with all of the variables except
the Drug and Alcohol Use Scales. The results of a multiple regression analysis indicate that the overall model did significantly predict CAP score [F(10,61) = 27.50, p < .001]
with an R2 of .844. However, only Depressive Problems (Beta = .300, p < .05) and
Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction (Beta = .620, p < .001) were significantly predictive
of child abuse potential. Findings of this study suggest that depression and other
emotional disorders could be used as a “red flag” when assessing child abuse potential.
In addition, it may be that internalizing disorders such as depression may be more
predictive of child abuse potential than externalizing disorders (e.g., substance use)
