IQ AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY TEST CORRELATES IN A MAJORITY-HISPANIC SAMPLE OF CPS-INVOLVED PARENTS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE SPECTRA

Abstract

Parents involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) frequently undergo psychological evaluation to inform decisions regarding child safety, reunification, and service planning. Within these evaluations, intellectual functioning and psychopathology are often assessed; however, limited research has examined how these domains interact in culturally diverse samples. This research article examines the relationship between IQ and psychopathology test scores in a majority-Hispanic sample of CPS-involved parents, with a focus on dimensional symptom spectra rather than categorical diagnoses. Drawing on contemporary models of psychopathology, including internalizing, externalizing, and thought disorder spectra, the paper reviews empirical findings on cognitive functioning, mental health, and parenting risk. Cultural, linguistic, and systemic considerations relevant to Hispanic families are emphasized. The article discusses implications for forensic assessment, interpretation of test results, and CPS decision-making, advocating for culturally responsive and spectrum-informed evaluation practices.