Data came from a nationally representative sample of 1,146 parents. Stress was measured by an instrument patterned after the Holmes and Rahe scale. Child abuse was measured by the severe violence index of the family Conflict Tactics Scale. Findings show that parents who experienced none of the 18 stresses in the index had the lowest rate of child abuse. The second part of the analysis tested the theory that stress by itself does not necessarily lead to child abuse. Mediating factors were shown to be parents having themselves been raised in a violent household; parental belief that the physical punishment of children and the slapping of spouses is appropriate; aggression in the marital relationship; a combination of low income, poor education, and low-status occupation; belief that husbands should be dominant in a marriage; and socially isolated parents. Although a causal link is not proven between stress, the mediating factors, and child abuse, the findings suggest that violence tends to be high when the conditions are present. 51 references.