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Article 1: Kennedy, S. C., Kim, J. S., Tripodi, S. J., Brown, S. J., & Gowdy, G. (2014). Does parent-child interaction therapy reduce future physical abuse? A meta-analysis. Research on Social Work Practice, 26, 147–156.

Learning Objective: 3-4: Discuss the various intervention and prevention efforts that have been developed to address child physical abuse including evidence of their effectiveness.
Summary: A meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for reducing future physical abuse among physically abuse families. Parents receiving PCIT had significantly fewer physical abuse recurrences and significantly greater reductions in parenting stress compared to the comparison group.

Questions to Consider

1. Describe PCIT. How does the intervention reduce future physical abuse among physically abusive families?
2. Describe the settings PCIT could be implemented in. What are the strengths and barriers to implementing in the settings you listed?
3. What future research PCIT should be conducted? What additional variables of interest would be important to study?

Article 2: Ling Chan, K. (2012). Evaluating the risk of child abuse: The Child Abuse Risk Assessment Scale (CARAS). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27, 951–973.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Identify the various risk factors associated with child physical abuse.
Summary: The study developed the Child Abuse Risk Assessment Scale (CARAS), an actuarial instrument for the assessment of the risk of physical child abuse.

Questions to Consider

1. What are risk factors associated with child abuse that the instrument took into account? Are there risk factors that were not included in the assessment?
2. Given that this instrument was developed and validated in an at-risk population of child maltreatment in Chinese societies, how do you see this tool being adapted for children in other cultures?
3. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the CARAS.
    

Article 3: Klika, J. B., Herrenkohl, T. I., & Lee, J. O. (2012). School factors as moderators of the relationship between physical child abuse and pathways of antisocial behavior. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28, 852–867.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Summarize the consequences of child physical abuse including both short- and long-term outcomes.
Summary: This study analyzed data from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study to investigate the prediction of antisocial behavior from physical child abuse and the buffering role of three school-related factors (i.e., school commitment, school dropout, and IQ). Results showed an association between physical child abuse and early antisocial behavior.

Questions to Consider

1. What additional school factors might play a buffering role between physical child abuse and later antisocial behavior?
2. What was the research method and design? How were the variables operationally defined?
3. What intervention implications do these results have?