PARENTS ANONYMOUS PROFILE: A COMPARISON (CHILD ABUSE)

The purpose of this study was to compare abusing parents to a random sample from the general population. A questionnaire given to 613 abusing parents was administered to a small (n = 30) control group. Data reported supported prevailing theories in literature that parents abuse because of low self-esteem, negative attitudes towards their roles as parents and dissatisfaction with their children as well as being socially isolated and undergoing high stressors without adequate means of dealing with stress or resources for support. Results did not support the theory which claims parents abuse because they have inadequate knowledge of children or child development. Implications for future research are the necessity of a nationwide study comparing abusive parents and a random sample, more studies of abusive fathers as well as examining the validity of some of the prevailing theories of causality. Implications for the therapist are, that to deal effectively with abusive parents, a multi-dimensional approach is necessary