Abstract
The purpose of this study was to address the following question: Why do parents first seek help with parenting when they report
their child’s disruptive behaviors are within normative levels? Two groups were selected for study from a sample of 91 parents
of 3- to 6-year-olds who sought help with parenting: Parents reporting disruptive behavior problems in the normative range
(n = 22) or above a clinical cutoff (n = 19). Logistic regression was used to examine two competing hypotheses about family variables which may account for why
parents seek help when reporting normative levels of disruptive behaviors: Alternative family stress (i.e., high levels of
family stress other than child disruptive behavior) and parent enhancement and validation (i.e., enhance and validate parenting
although child behavior is in normal range). No support emerged for the alternative family stress hypothesis whereas multiple
indicators (better use of disciplinary strategies, seeking services for a first born child, and being more highly educated)
provided support for the parent enhancement and validation hypothesis.
their child’s disruptive behaviors are within normative levels? Two groups were selected for study from a sample of 91 parents
of 3- to 6-year-olds who sought help with parenting: Parents reporting disruptive behavior problems in the normative range
(n = 22) or above a clinical cutoff (n = 19). Logistic regression was used to examine two competing hypotheses about family variables which may account for why
parents seek help when reporting normative levels of disruptive behaviors: Alternative family stress (i.e., high levels of
family stress other than child disruptive behavior) and parent enhancement and validation (i.e., enhance and validate parenting
although child behavior is in normal range). No support emerged for the alternative family stress hypothesis whereas multiple
indicators (better use of disciplinary strategies, seeking services for a first born child, and being more highly educated)
provided support for the parent enhancement and validation hypothesis.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-011-9254-5
- Authors
- Rex L. Forehand, Psychology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Justin Parent, Psychology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Kate Linnea, Psychology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Mary Jane Merchant, Psychology Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Nicholas Long, Universityof Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Deborah J. Jones, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689