Assessing parenting competence: clinical and psychosocial criteria

Abstract

This paper focuses on the forensic psychology criteria assessing parenting competence. The Italian legal norms about minors rights within their families (n. 183/1984, n.149/2001) stress the need of more scientific evidence-based criteria to assess parenting competence. Some studies about this matter are analysed, including the association between parent mental illness and different forms of child abuse and neglect. Child who are exposed to family violence and whose parents have an history of mental disorder may be less likely to show positive psychological adjustment, as they are exposed to a greater number of risk factors. For this purpose the Authors suggest a new clinical and psychosocial test. The test includes 24 items in three different psychosocial areas: 1) family’s social support and management competences, 2) minor's protection, 3) affection and empathia. The scores are based on the Likert scale form 1 to 5 points. This test can be used in three situations: psychosocial risk, familial neglect and problems of custody in case of divorce.