Reliability and Validity of Behavior Observation Coding Systems in Child Maltreatment Risk Evaluation: A Systematic Review

Performing child maltreatment risk assessments is a challenging task that calls for valid and reliable measures. In child protection proceedings, mental health professionals conduct maltreatment assessments that often form an important basis for judicial decision making. Because parent–child interaction is a key construct in maltreatment risk evaluations, observational assessment measures are crucial. This systematic review aims to identify observational coding systems of parent–child interaction that are applicable for psychological evaluations of the risk of child maltreatment. The goal is to examine the potential of observational coding systems to discriminate behavior of parents who have versus have not engaged in child maltreatment. A systematic literature search led to the inclusion of 13 studies published in the United States and Europe that were then analyzed in detail. Across the 13 studies, this review identified 11 unique observational coding systems. Results are summarized systematically for study characteristics and outcomes. Additionally, the main characteristics of the observational coding systems are identified and analyzed, including the age range of the child, observation tasks, measured constructs, and reliability. The discussion focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the individual observational coding systems in the context of child maltreatment risk assessments. Highlights Behavioral observation that focuses systematically on specific behavioral dimensions may be a valid approach to assess the risk of child maltreatment. The largest body of evidence supports the conclusion that significantly lower levels of “parental sensitivity and responsiveness,” “developmentally appropriate behavior,” and “positive affect,” as well as significantly higher levels of “hostility and control” and “parental anger” differentiate parents who have from those who have not engaged in child maltreatment. The selection of an observational coding system within a child abuse risk assessment should take the position and value of parent–child observations into account within the entire risk evaluation.