title: Neglected children: mothers' report of child behavior problems and observed verbal behavior.
abstract: This laboratory investigation assessed situational differences in observed maternal verbal behavior and the report of child behavior problems between groups of low-income Caucasian mothers and their neglected, behavior problem, or nonproblem children. Relative to controls, the interactions of neglect mothers were most negative and controlling during child-directed play. Behavior-problem mothers were most negative and as controlling as neglect mothers during parent-directed play. Both groups reported more difficult child behavior than controls. The results indicate the importance of considering situational variability and mode of analysis (i.e., frequency and/or percentage) when behavior differences between groups are being determined.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D014705:Verbal Behavior