Childhood Physical Abuse Research Articles

Sex Stereotypes and Child Physical Abuse: Mediating Effects of Attitudes on Beliefs about Consequences for Abusive Parents.

We hypothesized that (a) sex stereotypes would influence individuals' attitudes toward and beliefs about physically abusive parents and (b) these attitudes would mediate the connection between sex stereotypes and beliefs. Participants read one of four scenarios in which (a) sex of parents and sex of children were systematically varied while (b) holding constant the actions of parents and children as well as surrounding circumstances. Participants then expressed their attitudes about those parents and their beliefs about appropriate consequences for these parents. As expected, participants held more unfavorable attitudes about fathers than mothers and believed lenient consequences were more appropriate for mothers than fathers. Moreover, the linkage between parents' sex and participants' beliefs was mediated by participants' attitudes such that the effects of sex stereotypes on beliefs were all indirect rather than direct. Limitations (e.g., cross-sectional design, sample representativeness) and future directions (e.g., alternative parental and child behaviors, individual differences as moderators) are discussed.

Factors associated with trauma recidivism in young children.

Trauma recidivism is associated with future trauma-associated morbidity and mortality. Previous evidence suggests that socioeconomic factors predict trauma recidivism in older children (10-18 years); however, risk factors in US children 10 years and younger have not been studied. We sought to determine the factors associated with trauma recidivism in young children 10 years and younger. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric trauma patients 10 years and younger who presented to a single American College of Surgeons-verified Level I pediatric trauma center from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2021. All patients were evaluated for prior injury during trauma registry entry. Characteristics at the index injury were collected via chart review. Patients were geocoded to assess Social Vulnerability Index. Logistic regression examined factors associated with recidivism. Best subset selection was used to compare multivariable models and identify the most predictive and parsimonious model. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Of the 3,518 patients who presented in the study period, 169 (4.8%) experienced a prior injury. Seventy-six percent (n = 128) had one prior injury presentation, 18% (n = 31) had two prior presentations, and 5.9% (n = 10) had three or more. Falls were the most common mechanism in recidivists (63% vs. 52%, p = 0.009). Child physical abuse occurred in 6.5% of patients, and 0.9% experienced penetrating injury. The majority (n = 137 [83%]) were discharged home from the emergency department. There was no significant difference in the frequency of penetrating injury and child physical abuse between recidivists and nonrecidivists. Following logistic regression, the most parsimonious model demonstrated that recidivism was associated with comorbidities, age, falls, injury location, nontransfer, and racialization. No significant associations were found with Social Vulnerability Index and insurance status. Medical comorbidities, young age, injury location, and falls were primarily associated with trauma recidivism. Support for parents of young children and those with special health care needs through injury prevention programs could reduce trauma recidivism in this population. Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Comprehensive Treatment for Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Disorders and Their Children: The UNC Horizons Story.

To describe how the UNC Horizons program, a comprehensive women-centered program for pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders, and its patient population have changed over time and summarize basic neonatal outcomes for infants born to women in treatment at Horizons. Yearly Annual Reports from fiscal years of 1994 to 2017 were abstracted. Patient characteristics and infant outcomes compared to normative North Carolina data were examined. Highlights of findings include: The percentage of women for whom opioids were the primary substance of use increased from 0% in 1995-1996 to 62% in 2016-17, while cocaine decreased from 66 to 12%. Intravenous substance use history increased from 7% in 1994-1995 to 41% in 2016-2017. The number of women reporting a history of incarceration rose from 10-20% in the early years to 40%-50% beginning in 2007-2008. The proportion of women reporting a desire to hurt themselves rose from 20% in 2004-2005 to 40% in 2016-2017. Self-reported suicide attempt history remained consistent at 32% across years. While reporting of childhood physical abuse remained at 38% across years, reporting of sexual abuse and domestic violence trended upward. Horizons did not differ from North Carolina in the likelihood of patients giving birth prematurely [χ2(13) = 20.6,p = .082], or the likelihood of a patient giving birth to a low birthweight infant [χ2(13) = 14.7,p = .333]. Breaking the cycle of addiction for women and children must focus on helping women with substance use problems develop a sense of hope that their lives can improve, and a sense of feeling safe and nurtured.

Depressive Symptoms in Later Life in China: Situating "Long Arm" of Child Physical Maltreatment Within a Family Context.

Objective: This article intends to reveal the long-term effects of physical maltreatment in childhood on depressive symptoms in later life in China. Methods: Data were drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). 8676 respondents aged 45 and older were included in the study. In this study, we use ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to estimate the long-term impact on children of physical punishment from their parents. Results: We found that individuals who recalled being hit by their mother in early life reported more depressive symptoms than those who recalled being punished by their father. Difficult family contexts (e.g., comparative poverty, family violence, and parent's poor mental health) had a weak association with higher risk of reporting physical maltreatment and more depressive symptoms among respondents in later life. Conclusion: This article extended the exploration of the long-term impact of child physical maltreatment beyond adolescence and into until later adult life. Effective policies to protect children from maltreatment in the form of physical punishment require further attention to the challenges posed by tradition and culture.

Możliwość orzeczenia zakazu zajmowania stanowiska (stanowisk), wykonywania zawodu (zawodów) lub prowadzenia działalności związanej z wychowaniem, leczeniem, edukacją małoletnich lub opieką nad nimi za przechowywanie lub posiadanie treści pornograficznych z udziałem małoletniego – analiza empiryczna i formalno-dogmatyczna

The objective of this study is to answer the question whether adjudicating a ban on holding a position (or positions), practicing a profession (or professions) or conducting activities related to the upbringing, treatment, education or care of minors for storing or possessing pornographic content with the participation of a minor child is legally justified de lege lata. The authors present their standpoint on the basis of a detailed analysis of the elements of penal measures under Articles 39(2) and 39(2a) of the Polish Criminal Code and the conditions for adjudicating these measures provided for in Articles 41(§1) and 41(§1a) of the Criminal Code. For this purpose, a review of Canadian, American, Swiss, German and Czech studies on the correlation between crimes involving child pornography and physical sexual abuse of minors has been conducted. At a later stage, a formal-dogmatic exegesis of rights protected by the types of prohibited acts criminalizing the possession or storage of child pornography, the concept of ‘damage to a minor’ and the collision arising from the application of Article 41(§1) and Article 41(§1a, sentence 2) of the Criminal Code has been undertaken. The conclusion that emerges from both the hitherto achievements of empirical research and the appropriately made formal-dogmatic analysis indicates that at present there are no legal grounds to adjudicate the said criminal ban in the case of possessed or stored, and not self-created, child pornography. Nonetheless, a possible social unrest arising from the fact of a professional contact with children by persons having or storing such materials may be accommodated by a simple amendment to the Article 41(§1a, sentence 2) of the Criminal Code, as proposed by the authors.

Life course history of physical and sexual abuse is associated with cardiovascular disease risk among women living with and without HIV.

Sexual and physical abuse predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women in the general population. Women living with HIV (WLWH) report more abuse and have higher CVD risk compared with other women, yet associations between abuse history and CVD have not been considered among WLWH. This study fills this gap, and describes possible pathways linking abuse to CVD risk among WLWH and women living without HIV (WLWOH). Using 25 years of data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS; n = 2734; WLWH n = 1963; WLWOH n = 771), we used longitudinal generalized estimating equations (GEE) to test associations between sexual and physical abuse with CVD risk. Framingham (FRS-H) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association-Pooled Cohort Equation (ACC/AHA-PCE) scores were examined. Analyses were stratified by HIV-serostatus. Among WLWH, childhood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk ( βFRS-H = 1.25, SE = 1.08, P = 0.005; βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.14, SE = 1.07, P = 0.04) compared with no abuse. Adulthood sexual abuse was associated with higher CVD risk for WLWH ( βFRS-H = 1.39, SE = 1.08, P < 0.0001) and WLWOH ( βFRS-H = 1.58, SE = 1.14, P = 0.0006). Childhood physical abuse was not associated with CVD risk for either group. Adulthood physical abuse was associated with CVD risk for WLWH ( βFRS-H = 1.44, SE = 1.07; P < 0.0001, βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.18, SE = 1.06, P = 0.002) and WLWOH ( βFRS-H = 1.68, SE = 1.12, P < 0.0001; βACC/AHA-PCE = 1.24, SE = 1.11, P = 0.03). Several pathway factors were significant, including depression, smoking, and hepatitis C infection. Life course abuse may increase CVD risk among WLWH and women at high risk of acquiring HIV. Some comorbidities help explain the associations. Assessing abuse experiences in clinical encounters may help contextualize cardiovascular risk among this vulnerable population and inform intervention.

Impact of a Parent Education Program Delivered by Nurses and Health Care Providers in Reducing Infant Physical Abuse Hospitalization Rates in British Columbia, Canada.

The Period of PURPLE Crying Program® (PURPLE) is a universal parent education program that is delivered by nurses and health care providers to all parents/caregivers of newborns in British Columbia (B.C.). The aim of the program is to reduce the incidence of Traumatic Head Injury -Child Maltreatment (THI-CM), a form of child physical abuse. To determine if the PURPLE program had an impact on the rate of physical abuse hospitalizations for children less than or equal to 24 months of age in B.C. since implementation in 2009. The analysis measured physical abuse hospitalization rates for the period January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2019 and excluded any cases of confirmed Traumatic Head Injury-Child Maltreatment. Data were divided into pre-implementation period January, 1999 to December, 2008, and post-implementation period January, 2009 to December, 2019. Data were obtained from the Discharge Abstract Database and B.C. THI-CM Surveillance System to capture information on infant child abuse. Poisson regression and ANCOVA was applied to model the change in rates pre and post program implementation. Physical abuse hospitalization rates decreased by 30% post-implementation period (95% CI: -14%, 57%, p = 0.1561). The decreasing linear trend in the post-implementation period was significantly different than the increasing linear trend in the pre-implementation period (F1,17 = 4.832, p = 0.042). Nurses' role in engaging parents in conversations about PURPLE messages over multiple timepoints within a structured universal program model resulted in a decrease in physical abuse hospitalization rates since the implementation of PURPLE.

Longitudinal predictors of children's self-blame appraisals among military families reported for family violence

BackgroundAlthough children's self-blame appraisals are recognized as important sequelae of child victimization that contribute to subsequent adjustment problems, little is known about the factors that predict their development and longitudinal course. ObjectiveThe current study examines the stability and longitudinal predictors of children's self-blame appraisals among a sample of children reported for family violence. Participants and settingChildren (N = 195; 63 % female) aged 7 to 17 years (Mage = 12.17) were recruited as part of a longitudinal assessment of families referred to the United States Navy's Family Advocacy Program due to allegations of child physical abuse, sexual abuse, or intimate partner violence. MethodsChildren completed assessments on self-blame at 3 time points (baseline, 9–12 months, and 18–24 months) and baseline measures of their victimization experience, caregiver-child conflict, and depression. ResultsIn univariate analyses, victimization that involved injury (r = 0.29, p < .001), the number of perpetrators (r = 0.23, p = .001), the number of victimization types (r = 0.32, p < .001), caregiver-child conflict (r = 0.36, p < .001), and depression (r = 0.39, p < .001) were each positively associated with baseline self-blame. When examined in a single longitudinal multilevel model, results indicated only caregiver-child conflict (b = 0.08, p = .007) and baseline depression (b = 0.06, p = .013) predicted increases in self-blame. ConclusionFindings suggest clinicians and researchers may consider assessment of victimization characteristics, caregiver-child relationships, and depression symptoms to identify children most at risk for developing self-blame appraisals.

Oral health professional intervention and child physical abuse-European legal approach.

An oral health professional's notification of the event is a fundamental step of the judicial process.The timeline is the core of traumatic injury assessment in a child physical abuse scenario.Medicolegal evaluation impacts disability prevention, imputability, and notification of the crime.

Mother-child reporting discrepancies of child physical abuse: Associations with internalizing and externalizing symptoms

BackgroundMother-child discrepancies frequently occur in reports of child physical abuse. Such report discrepancies raise important challenges for interpreting and integrating data from multiple informants in forensic and clinical settings. ObjectivesThe main goal of this study was to identify patterns of mother-child discrepancies in reporting CPA using latent profile analysis. We then tested differences between profiles on mothers' mental health problems and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms.Participants and setting.Participants were 159 mother-child dyads with police-documented exposure to intimate partner violence. MethodParticipants were recruited from Child Protective Services and shelter residences from all regions of Portugal. After obtaining informed consent, assessment protocols were administered separately to mothers and children. ResultsWe identified two convergent profiles (mother-child agreement on reports of both high and low exposure to CPA) and one divergent profile (the child reported significantly higher exposure to CPA than the mother). Mothers from the divergent profile reported more depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms than mothers from the convergent profiles. Children of the divergent profile and one of the convergent profiles (mother-child agreement on high exposure to CPA) showed the highest internalizing and externalizing symptoms. ConclusionsThese results illustrate how examining informant discrepancies in the assessment of abusive parenting practices increases our understanding of children's psychological adjustment in high-risk contexts.

Suicide Ideation and the Association of Chronic Disease among American Indians.

To explore associations of chronic disease, perceived wellness, adverse experiences, and suicide ideation among American Indians. Thirteen California health clinic registries formed the random household survey sampling frame (N=459) during the first stage of an intervention trial on wellness. Measures included sociodemographics, wellness status, health conditions, suicide ideation, cultural connectivity (speaking tribal language, participating in cultural practices, and feeling connected to the community), and history of physical, sexual, verbal abuse and neglect in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Chi square and Fisher exact tests examined bivariate, unadjusted relationships, while multiple logistic regression analysis examined adjusted associations. Adverse experiences, specifically physical abuse and sexual abuse, were associated with obesity in childhood. Having poor cultural connectivity was significantly associated with (1) low perceptions of wellness; (2) physical abuse in childhood and adolescence; (3) sexual abuse in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood; and (4) verbal abuse and neglect in adulthood. Poor perception of wellness was also correlated with suicide ideation. The relationships between suicide ideation, chronic disease, connectivity, and perception of wellness among American Indians are explored in this article.

Association between missed appointments and hospitalization for child physical abuse

Missed cases of child physical abuse (CPA) persist despite known risk factors. Prior studies have not evaluated missed medical appointments as a risk factor for CPA. The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between missed appointments and hospitalization for CPA.We conducted a 20-year, single health system, retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients ≤36 months of age meeting International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9/10 criteria for CPA with ≥1 scheduled appointment in our system prior to their admission. Cases were categorized as definite CPA, high likelihood, or no concern for CPA/unable to be determined. Cases identified as definite or high likelihood of CPA were matched (5:1) with controls based on age, distance to primary care provider's (PCP's) office, sex, prior hospitalization, and race. Missed appointments were compared between cases (n = 146) and controls (n = 730).A significant difference was identified between cases and controls (26 % vs 9 %, p < 0.001) for the median proportion of missed appointments. After adjusting for matched and significant covariates, there was a 3 % increase in a patient's odds of admission for CPA for every 1 % increase in missed appointments.We found an association between missed appointments and future admission for CPA. This finding has potential to assist clinicians with CPA risk stratification and future child abuse research. Limitations include single healthcare system, ICD criteria determined by research team, and narrow definition of definite CPA.

Predicting Black Parents' Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment: A Moderated-Mediation Model of Frequency and Valence of Childhood Experiences.

Child corporal punishment (CP) may lead to child physical abuse, which is a public health concern in the United States. The present study examined major risk factors predicting attitudes toward CP among a sample of Black parents (N = 394), including frequency and valence of experiences of CP during childhood, outcome expectancies of CP, and perceptions of self-efficacy and response efficacy of non-physical discipline strategies. Structural equation modeling results revealed that the indirect associations between CP frequency and attitudes through self-efficacy and response efficacy were moderated by CP valence. Results extend the literature and point to the need for incorporating information about efficacy of evidence-based non-physical discipline strategies into intervention messages targeting prevention of child physical abuse.

Risk Factors for First Occurrence of Documented Severe Physical Child Abuse: a Systematic Review

Risk Factors for First Occurrence of Documented Severe Physical Child Abuse: a Systematic Review

Adverse childhood experiences on internet gaming disorder mediated through insomnia in Chinese young people.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with addictions such as substance use disorders. Few have examined ACEs on internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a newly established behavioral addiction, and the potential mediating role of insomnia remains unclear. We examined the associations between ACE number and types, IGD, and insomnia. Participants included 1, 231 Chinese university students (54.5% male; 56.9% aged 18-20 years) who had played internet games at least once in the previous month. ACEs were measured using the 10-item ACE questionnaire (yes/no). Symptoms of insomnia and IGD were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index and the 9-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form, respectively. Multivariable regressions examined the associations, adjusting for sex, age, maternal and paternal educational attainment, monthly household income, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The mediating role of insomnia symptoms was explored. The prevalence of ACEs≥1 was 40.0%. Childhood verbal abuse was the most prevalent (17.4%), followed by exposure to domestic violence (17.1%) and childhood physical abuse (15.5%). More ACE numbers showed an association with IGD symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.04, 1.17). Specifically, IGD symptoms were observed for childhood physical neglect, emotional neglect, sexual abuse, parental divorce or separation, and household substance abuse. Insomnia symptoms mediated the associations of ACE number and types with IGD symptoms (proportion of total effect mediated range 0.23-0.89). The number and specific types of ACEs showed associations with IGD mediated through insomnia. Screening of ACEs is recommended in future studies on IGD. Longitudinal data are warranted to determine the causality of the observed associations.

Childcare Subsidy Employment and Copayment Requirements and Child Maltreatment.

Economic support programs for low-income families may play an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect. In the United States, childcare subsidies are provided to low-income families who meet certain requirements to offset the high cost of childcare. States have flexibility in setting many policies related to the provision of childcare subsidies, which results in a great deal of variation in how the programs operate between states. One policy dimension on which states vary is the number of employment hours required to receive childcare subsidies. A small body of work has begun to investigate the ways in which these state policy variations might relate to child maltreatment. Using 11years of administrative data from the United States, the current study sought to estimate the relationship between two sources of variation in childcare subsidy policies: employment requirements and copayment size; and child neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse substantiations. The study found a nuanced relationship between required employment and neglect substantiations. Specifically, requiring some level of work was not associated with neglect substantiations, but requiring 30 hours of employment was associated with higher rates. The study did not find a relationship between copayment size and maltreatment substantiations.

Asymptomatic Infant Rib Fractures Are Primarily Non-abuse-Related and Should Not Be Used to Assess Physical Child Abuse.

Finding infant rib fractures was for many years an almost undisputed proof that physical child abuse took place. Yet, these rib fractures are virtually always occult and asymptomatic and are only identified when looked for, usually with X-rays, from physical child abuse accusations related to, e.g., suspicion of the shaken baby syndrome. In a recent systematic literature review (searched in Cochran, Embase, PubMed and Sociological Abstracts), Güvensel questioned the diagnostic accuracy of rib fractures to be caused by abuse, due to lack of sufficient scientific evidence. Further, there is currently a world-wide disagreement between physicians considering themselves child abuse specialized, and physicians that explore non-abuse-related symptoms that may mimic physical abuse, which, it is hoped, will significantly reduce current unjustified child abuse diagnoses. In an attempt to help resolving this disagreement, we hypothesize that the probability of physical child abuse-related infant rib fractures is significantly lower than the probability of all other possible non-abuse-related causes of occult asymptomatic infant rib fractures, e.g., from birth trauma, prematurity, osteogenesis imperfecta, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, severe chronic placental pathology (e.g., massive perivillous fibrin depositions and severe chronic histiocytic intervillositis), and vitamin-D deficiency. As method, we attempted to assess the incidence of these various causes of infant rib fractures, in the Netherlands and the USA. The results are that the estimated Dutch and USA physical abuse-related infant rib fracture incidences are at least about 250 and 45 times lower than the sum of all the non-abuse-related estimates. Because these latter rib fractures are occult and asymptomatic, it is likely that (many) more could be out there. In conclusion, occult asymptomatic rib fractures develop perinatally, virtually always as birth trauma, in infants with sufficiently weak bones due to vitamin D deficiency, transmitted by their vitamin D deficient pregnant mothers. This group also includes cortical rib cracks due to deformation forces, with an estimated 186/100,000 incidence. And, despite obvious uncertainties in all estimated incidences, we provided strong evidence that our hypothesis has relevance, implying that the abundant occult asymptomatic rib fractures, when found in infants, should not be used to assess potential physical child abuse.

Child-related risk factors and injuries in cases of physical child abuse

Abstract Background When evaluating child welfare risk, recognition of abuse-related injuries and knowledge of risk factors for child abuse are important aspects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate child-related risk factors and particularities of injuries in cases of physical child abuse, to use the results for preventive child protection. Methods This retrospective case control study evaluated case files of 368 physically abused children (age range 0–14 years) referred to forensic medicine in 2004–2015. Death cases and cases that could not be separated from sexual abuse and neglect were excluded and 363 controls without suspicion of abuse were recruited from a pediatric clinic. Demographic data, state of care and previous illnesses were compared in both groups by determining χ2-test and Fisher’s exact test. Concerning injuries, specified mechanism of origin, type of violence, localization on the body and frequency of life-threatening and repeated abuse were evaluated. Results Male gender and age group of infants/toddlers were identified as significant child-related risk factors. In over 90%, injuries resulted from blunt trauma, with the skin (86%) and skeletal system (22%) most commonly involved. Injuries were located in almost 60% on obvious parts of the body. Reported causes for trauma were mostly accident mechanisms. Repeated abuse was found in over half and life-threatening injuries in nearly 20% of the cases. Conclusion As part of the daily work pediatricians and other child protection workers are able to identify suspected cases early. Therefore, good understanding of typical risk factors and injuries including plausibility check of the reported origin are important aspects. Periodic reassessment of child well-being and mandatory visit to pediatricians could avoid repeated and severe child maltreatment with life-threatening consequences.

Segni clinici di maltrattamento fisico nel bambino, immagine per immagine

Unfortunately, physical abuse in children is a frequent condition. Paediatricians need to be aware and to know what signs are more frequently associated with this condition. Bruising, bone fractures, burns, retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematomas are associated with the presence of physical abuse and they should be searched for in front of suspected history. This article describes the clinical signs mostly associated with physical abuse in children and describes what features make these clinical signs highly suggestive of physical abuse. The images and figures will help the reader to contextualize the text.

Exploratory assessment of parental physical disease categories as predictors of documented physical child abuse

Improved prediction of physical child abuse could aid in developing preventive measures. Parental physical disease has been tested previously as a predictor of documented physical child abuse but in broad categories and with differing results. No prior studies have tested clinically recognizable categories of parental disease in a high-powered dataset. Using Danish registries, data on children and their parents from the years 1997–2018 were used to explore several parental physical disease categories’ associations with documented physical child abuse. For each disease category, survival analysis using pseudovalues was applied. When a parent of a child was diagnosed or received medication that qualified for a category, this family and five comparison families not in this disease category were included, creating separate cohorts for each category of disease. Multiple analyses used samples drawn from 2,705,770 children. Estimates were produced for 32 categories of physical diseases. Using Bonferroni-corrected confidence intervals (CIc), ischemic heart disease showed a relative risk (RR) of 1.44 (CIc 1.13–1.84); peripheral artery occlusive disease, RR 1.39 (CIc 1.01–1.90); stroke, RR 1.19 (1.01–1.41); chronic pulmonary disease, RR 1.33 (CIc 1.18–1.51); ulcer/chronic gastritis, RR 1.27 (CIc 1.08–1.49); painful condition, 1.17 (CIc 1.00–1.37); epilepsy, RR 1.24 (CIc 1.00–1.52); and unspecific somatic symptoms, RR 1.37 (CIc 1.21–1.55). Unspecific somatic symptoms were present in 71.87% of families at some point during the study period.Conclusion: Most parental physical disease categories did not show statistically significant associations, but some showed predictive ability. Further research is needed to explore preventive potential.What is Known:• Few and broad categories of parental physical disease have been examined as risk factors for severe physical child abuse; no prior study has used several categories as predictors.What is New:• Unspecific symptoms, ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery occlusive disease, stroke, chronic pulmonary disease, stomach ulcer/chronic gastritis, painful condition, and epilepsy all showed to be potential predictors, with unspecific symptoms being the most prevalent.