To provide cross-validation data for the Child Abuse Potential Inventory, classification rates were determined for 220 physical child abusers and matched control subjects. Using all protocols, a discriminant analysis indicated the Abuse scale correctly classified 85.4% of the subjects, with 82.7% of the abusers and 88.2% of the control subjects…

The Child Abuse Potential Inventory significantly discriminated between abusers and nonabusers. The factors were distress, rigidity, child with problems, problems from family and others, unhappiness, loneliness, and negative concept of child and of self. Rigidity, unhappiness, and distress factors were most meaningful in understanding why some…

A study examined the responses of 89 physical child abusers and 108 comparison subjects to the Child Abuse Potential Inventory to determine whether the inventory's response inconsistency scale could be used for screening for physical child abuse. The scale was rejected as a reliable or valid measure. (Author/MSE)