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Examining subtypes of behavior problems among 3-year-old children, Part III: investigating differences in parenting

Lauren H Goldstein1, Elizabeth A Harvey, Julie L Friedman-Weieneth

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|December 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Parenting behaviors differ for children with hyperactivity and oppositional defiance. Parents of these children exhibit less warmth and more negative affect, impacting parenting stress.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Parenting styles significantly influence child behavior and development.
  • Hyperactivity and oppositional defiant behaviors in young children present unique challenges for families.
  • Understanding parental responses is crucial for effective early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate parenting differences between mothers and fathers of 3-year-old children.
  • To compare parenting styles and stress levels in families with hyperactive (HYP), hyperactive and oppositional defiant (HYP/OD), and non-problem children.
  • To explore the relationship between specific child behavioral classifications and parental warmth, negative affect, laxness, and parenting stress.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Participant recruitment of mothers and fathers with 3-year-old children.
  • Classification of children into HYP, HYP/OD, and non-problem groups based on maternal reports.
  • Assessment of parenting behaviors (warmth, negative affect, laxness) and parenting stress.

Main Results:

  • Parents of HYP/OD children displayed less warmth, more negative affect, and greater laxness compared to parents of non-problem children.
  • No significant differences were found between parents of HYP/OD and HYP children in these parenting dimensions.
  • Mothers of HYP/OD children reported higher overall parenting stress than mothers of non-problem children.
  • Mothers of HYP children reported elevated stress specifically related to child difficulty.

Conclusions:

  • Parenting characteristics are associated with child behavioral problems, particularly in the HYP/OD group.
  • Parenting stress is elevated in mothers of children with behavioral challenges, with varying domains affected by the specific classification.
  • Findings have implications for targeted parenting interventions for children with hyperactivity and oppositional defiance.

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