The relationship between violence history in patients with severe mental disorders and child abuse of their children

Background: Research on child abuse among children of parents with mental illness (COPMI) remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of child abuse among COPMI and examined the association between a history of violence in parents with severe mental disorders (SMD) and the risk of child abuse in their households. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among families of SMD patients registered at community health centers in Wuhan, China (2020). Demographic and clinical characteristics of participants and their parents were collected. Prevalence of child abuse was analyzed, and logistic regression model assessed associations between SMD patients' violence history and child abuse. Results: Of 352 COPMI, 15.06% reported any abusive behavior in the past 6 months. Specifically, 14.20% experienced emotional abuse, 7.40% experienced physical abuse, and 7.10% experienced two or more specific abusive behaviors. Multivariable analysis revealed households with two mentally ill members, mental illness relapse, SMD duration ≤5 years, and violence history as significant child abuse risk factors. Conclusion: The 6-month prevalence of abuse (emotional or physical) among COPMI is notable. A clinical profile of the parent with SMD that includes a history of violence is associated with a significantly higher risk of abuse within the household. These findings inform potential adaptations of the China's National Continuing Management and Intervention Program ('686' Program) for COPMI-focused prevention strategies.