Two-Generation Psychiatric Intervention in the Prevention of Early Childhood Maltreatment Recidivism

Associations between Parental Mental Health and Child Maltreatment: The Importance of Family Characteristics

“…(3) Can we determine the impact of parental mental health problems on parental dysfunction (child neglect and abuse), while controlling for family and child characteristics? It is important to analyze the contribution of parental mental health problems to the risk of maltreatment, apart from other risk factors, since it has been shown that families involved in maltreatment cases are likely to suffer from co-occurring problems and risk factors (Constantino et al 2016;McConnell and Llewellyn 2005;Slack et al 2011;Wattenberg et al 2001;Zilberstein 2016). Given the fact that the literature does not provide any guidance in this regard, no hypothesis is provided.…”

“…The findings indicate that a large proportion of parents who are at high risk of TPR suffer from mental health problems. The rate of mental health problems is expected to be high among this group of parents (Constantino et al 2016). A recent study found that 34.6% of infants born to mothers with a mental health disorder, in a birth cohort from the general population, were reported to CPS within one year, and a majority of these reports were made within the first month of life (Hammond et al 2017).…”

“…The fact that the prevalence of parental mental health problems in child maltreatment cases varies across studies (e.g., Bogacki and Weiss 2007) may indicate that many parents go undiagnosed or are underdiagnosed (Chuang et al 2014). This suggests that parents involved in TPR cases may have unmet mental health needs which can impede effective intervention (Constantino et al 2016;Siegenthaler et al 2012). Screening for parental mental health problems is thus warranted in every case of child maltreatment allegations (Chuang et al 2014).…”

“…Screening for parental mental health problems is thus warranted in every case of child maltreatment allegations (Chuang et al 2014). It also underscores the need to expand access to mental health services for parents (Constantino et al 2016;O'Donnell et al 2015). It has been shown that children whose caregivers received mental health services following a maltreatment report had decreased risk of re-reporting (Jonson-Reid et al 2010).…”

“…Parental mental health problems have been recognized as a major risk factor for child maltreatment (Constantino 2016;Kohl et al 2011;Sun et al 2001;Stith et al 2009). The mental illness of a parent may compromise the quality of parenting provided to the child and is associated with negative outcomes for children, including developmental and mental health problems (Constantino 2016;Constantino et al 2016;Duong 2020;Huntsman 2008;Madhlopa et al 2020;Marcal 2021;Smith 2004;Wolford et al 2019). Parents with a mental health problem may be emotionally unavailable, withdrawn, less responsive, have a less sensitive interaction with the child and a harsh parenting style (Bromfield et al 2010;Lovejoy et al 2000;Newman et al 2007).…”