Predicting child abuse potential across family types.

The present study was conducted to explore whether stress, family resources, and social support are correlates of the child abuse potential of mothers, and whether prediction functions differ across families with children with disabilities and families with no children with disabilities. The design and analyses were correlational. Statistically and practically significant relationships were found. Stress in family functioning appears to be an important predictor of child abuse potential, and it is suggested that interventions might be designed to target related features of family functioning.