A multi‐method evaluation of parent and child factors associated with child abuse potential across valid and invalid profiles on the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory

Child abuse is a pervasive problem impacting millions of children. Researchers largely rely on parent‐report questionnaires to examine risk for child abuse, leaving a gap in research concerning the link between observed parent and child behaviors and child abuse potential. The current study pursued a multi‐method approach to explore relations between parent and child factors and child abuse potential (via the Brief Child Abuse Potential Inventory; BCAP) in a sample of 90 mother‐toddler dyads referred for behavioral problems in Australia. About half of the sample engaged in socially desirable responding which resulted in an invalid profile on the BCAP. Therefore, analyses were conducted twice to assess risk factors for child abuse within the standard valid BCAP profile sample ( n = 41) and the full sample including valid and invalid profiles ( n = 84). Within the valid‐only sample, parent emotion dysregulation contributed significantly to the model predicting child abuse potential. However, within the full sample, parent emotion dysregulation, romantic attachment avoidance, stress, and negative touch were significantly associated with child abuse potential. Findings highlight the importance of including parents with invalid BCAP profiles when assessing child abuse potential as these high‐risk parents may go unnoticed and miss connections to critical interventions.