The research is designed to develop and validate a client-administered screening scale for intra-familial sexual child abuse. The scale will be developed from items in a recently constructed Sexual Child Abuse Potential (SCAP) Inventory. The SCAP Inventory is an expanded version of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory, which contains a screening scale for physical child abuse. The SCAP Inventory consists of CAP Inventory items plus new items that were added because of their putative relationship to sexual child abuse. The proposed research will validate and cross-validate items that differentiate intra-familial male sexual child abusers from matched comparison parents. Items selected for inclusion in a preliminary scale will undergo a multiple criterion screening process that will include determination of item-total scale score and item-modulator variable relationships. Following the final selection of scale items, a scoring procedure will be developed, and scale classification rates will be computed. A factor analysis will determine the descriptive characteristics measured by the scale. Internal consistency and temporal stability estimates for the scale and associated descriptive factor scales will be determined. The scale will be cross-validated on a sample of sexual child abusers and comparison subjects from a different site. A predictive validity study will determine the degree of relationship between elevated scale scores and later child abuse. Finally, the ability of the scale to discriminate between sexual child abusers and physical child abusers will be determined. The research will provide a tool for screening intra-familial sexual child abusers. Such a tool will be especially appropriate for use in social service settings where the base rates for confirmed sexual child abuse in reported cases is typically in the 33% to 50% range. In addition, the scale will provide a tool for screening other suspected caretakers, such as daycare workers, fosterparents, and children's home houseparents. The screening scale will be useful in secondary prevention efforts and in evaluating the effectiveness (through pre-, post-treatment, and follow-up assessment) of various educational and therapeutic intervention programs for sexual child abusers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH034252-08
Application #
3375519
Study Section
Life Course and Prevention Research Review Committee (LCR)
Project Start
1987-09-21
Project End
1993-08-31
Budget Start
1991-09-01
Budget End
1992-08-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northern Illinois University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
De Kalb
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60115
Dopke, C A; Milner, J S (2000) Impact of child noncompliance on stress appraisals, attributions, and disciplinary choices in mothers at high and low risk for child physical abuse. Child Abuse Negl 24:493-504
Caselles, C E; Milner, J S (2000) Evaluations of child transgressions, disciplinary choices, and expected child compliance in a no-cry and a crying infant condition in physically abusive and comparison mothers. Child Abuse Negl 24:477-91
Nayak, M B; Milner, J S (1998) Neuropsychological functioning: comparison of mothers at high- and low-risk for child physical abuse. Child Abuse Negl 22:687-703
Milner, J S; Crouch, J L (1997) Impact and detection of response distortions on parenting measures used to assess risk for child physical abuse. J Pers Assess 69:633-50
Crouch, J L; Milner, J S; Caliso, J A (1995) Childhood physical abuse, perceived social support, and socioemotional status in adult women. Violence Vict 10:273-83
Casanova, G M; Domanic, J; McCanne, T R et al. (1994) Physiological responses to child stimuli in mothers with and without a childhood history of physical abuse. Child Abuse Negl 18:995-1004
Chilamkurti, C; Milner, J S (1993) Perceptions and evaluations of child transgressions and disciplinary techniques in high- and low-risk mothers and their children. Child Dev 64:1801-14
Casanova, G M; Domanic, J; McCanne, T R et al. (1992) Physiological responses to non-child-related stressors in mothers at risk for child abuse. Child Abuse Negl 16:31-44
Milner, J S (1989) Applications of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory. J Clin Psychol 45:450-4
Milner, J S; Robertson, K R (1989) Inconsistent response patterns and the prediction of child maltreatment. Child Abuse Negl 13:59-64

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