Parenting Attitudes, Family Environments, Depression, and Anxiety in Caregivers of Maltreated Children

Abstract

This study evaluated parenting attitudes, family environments, depression, and anxiety in a sample of primarily minority urban mothers to better understand maltreating mothers (n = 83), who retain custody of their children and how they are similar to and different from foster mothers (n = 50), kin caregivers (n = 52) of maltreated children, and comparison mothers (n = 100) from the same communities. Maltreating mothers were distinguished by their much higher levels of depression and anxiety from other mothers. In addition, like foster mothers, maltreating mothers were less likely to approve of corporal punishment. Foster mothers were higher in organization and lower in empathy than other groups. There were no differences by race/ethnicity on study dimensions. Higher education, however, was related to more favorable parenting attitudes and family environments. Practice implications related to appropriate services are suggested. © 2011 by the National Council on Family Relations.