This study evaluates child, parent, and family factors related to parents' heightened potential for child physical abuse. Mothers ( n = 113) of child psychiatric patients and nonpatients (ages 6-13) were classified as being at low, moderate, or high risk for child abuse. Group comparisons revealed that high-abuse-potential mothers reported greater child externalizing and depressive symptoms, child rejection, personal psychological dysfunction, stressful life events, and family problems, but there were few differences in reports of parent management practices or family violence. Child reports indicated a few group differences in child dysfunction and violence. The results are in accord with interactional models and extend prior research by elaborating possible correlates of physical abuse.
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