The effect of child-abuse on the behavioral problems in the children of the parents with substance use disorder: Presenting a model of structural equations

Abstract

Child abuse may potentially create the behavioral problems particularly in the children of parents with substance use disorder. Thus, the current study was conducted to investigate the effects of child abuse on the behavioral problems in the children of parents with substance use disorder using the emotional regulation and social skills as mediators. In this paper, the method of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied. The study population included 358 children of parents with substance use disorder whose parents had referred to the addiction treatment center in Kermanshah province, Iran (2017-2018). Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (CBRS), Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC), Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS) Questionnaire, and Child Abuse Questionnaire were also used for data collection. IBM SPSS Amos 22 software was utilized for statistical analysis of the obtained data. The SEM was also analyzed to confirm fit of the model. The results showed a direct relationship between the child abuse and behavioral problems so that, the boys outperformed the girls in this regard. The findings also suggested a significant relationship between the family characteristics and behavioral problems. On the other hand, family characteristics and emotional regulation had direct and significant effects on improvement of the social skills (P < 0.001). The results revealed a direct effect of child abuse on the behavioral problems in the children of parents with substance use disorder. Thus, it is suggested to take a preventive approach toward child abuse in the children of parents with substance use disorder by employing a comprehensive program and intervention methods.

Keywords:

• Child abuse
• behavioral problems
• parents with substance use disorder

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Khomeini and Mohammad Kermanshahi and Farabi Hospitals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran for their cooperation and scientific assistance throughout the period of study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the ethics committee of the vice chancellery of research and technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS.REC.2017.496) and the written informed consent was obtained from each participant after explaining the purpose of research.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is supported by Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Khomeini and Mohammad Kermanshahi and Farabi Hospitals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran (grant no. 96510).