Quality of perceived parenting in oppositional and conduct disordered adolescents

In order to ascertain whether there was a relationship between parenting style and the development of conduct (CD) and oppositional (OD) disorder, the authors compared ratings on a self-report measure of perceived parenting (Parental Bonding Instrument) by normal adolescents (N = 62) and by adolescents with CD (N = 62) or OD (N = 49). No differences were found between the CD and OD groups. However, there were significant differences between the clinical groups and the normal control group: adolescents with CD or OD perceived their parents as more overprotective and less caring.