Disciplinary style linked to positive functioning among children with behaviour problems

Research has revealed that mothers’ dysfunctional disciplinary style and child abuse potential is inversely predictive of positive functioning among children with behaviour problems. Behaviour disorders make up a large proportion of children’s needs for mental health intervention. These include externalising disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Conduct Disorder (CD). While previous research has linked dysfunctional parenting styles with the emergence and/or exacerbation of such disorders, it is unclear if a lower abuse risk and less maladaptive disciplinary style could also be associated with positive functioning in such children. In the current study, Rodriguez et al. sought to investigate whether lower dysfunctional disciplinary style was associated with children’s positive self-concept, adaptive attributional style, and hopefulness. They studied a sample of children undergoing treatment for disruptive behaviour disorders comprising 69 mother—child dyads, with 52 boys and 17 girls with a median age of 10.33 years. The majority (67.2%) of children were raised by their biological mothers, 3% were step-children, 6% were adopted, and 23.9% were raised by a grandmother or other family member. For the purpose of this study all maternal caregivers were referred to as ‘mothers’. The mothers’ mean age was 41.11 years. Maternal caregivers reported on their disciplinary style and abuse potential, and children reported, independently, on their positive functioning (adaptive attributional style, overall self-concept, and hopelessness). The researchers found that correlations among the parent-report and child-report showed that positive self concept was associated with hopefulness and adaptive explanatory styles. With regards to parents’ reports, dysfunctional disciplinary style was strongly associated with parents’ potential to be physically abusive. Further analyses revealed that parents who reported fewer maladaptive disciplinary practices and a lower propensity for child abuse, tended to have children who characterised themselves as having more positive self-concepts, more adaptive explanatory styles, and more hopefulness. “The present findings are consistent with the risk factor research that has emphasised altering ineffective parenting to reduce externalising behaviour problems,” they stated. The authors concluded that the parent-training programs designed to improve parental disciplinary approaches may not only reduce children’s externalising behaviour problems, but may also enhance their positive functioning. Reference...