Ethnic differences in problem perception: Immigrant mothers in a parenting intervention to reduce disruptive child...

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cultural Psychiatry

Background:

• Ethnic minority families in Europe are underrepresented in mental health services.
• This underrepresentation may stem from differing perceptions of child behavior problems.
• Concerns exist that lower problem perception could reduce intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine ethnic differences in child behavior problem perception among families in mental health services.
• To determine if lower maternal problem perception affects the efficacy of parenting interventions for disruptive child behavior.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 136 mothers and their 3- to 8-year-old children from Dutch, Moroccan, and Turkish ethnic groups in the Netherlands.
• Mothers reported on child behavior problems and their perception of these issues.
• Participants were randomized to the Incredible Years parenting intervention or a waitlist control group.
• Maternal problem perception was contrasted with teacher reports.

Main Results:

• Moroccan and Turkish mothers perceived child behavior problems as less problematic, less impairing, and less burdensome compared to Dutch mothers.
• Teacher reports of child problem perception did not differ across ethnic groups.
• Maternal perception of problem severity did not influence the effectiveness of the parenting intervention in reducing disruptive child behavior.

Conclusions:

• Ethnic differences in problem perception are present when families engage in mental health treatment.
• Lower levels of maternal problem perception do not diminish the positive effects of parenting interventions on disruptive child behavior.
• Findings suggest that interventions can be effective regardless of initial parental perception differences.