title: Interactional processes in families with disruptive boys: patterns of direct and indirect influence.
abstract: Patterns of direct and indirect influence were investigated in interactions among 44 families with disruptive boys. Positive and negative behaviors were assessed for spouses and parent-child dyads, in different laboratory situations. For direct or reciprocal influence, positive behaviors in the father-child dyads were positively correlated; mothers' positive behaviors were positively correlated with boys' negative behaviors, suggesting an unexpected pattern of "inverse reciprocity." For indirect influences, the following associations were found: Fathers' negative behaviors toward their children predicted the children's negative behaviors toward their mothers, and mothers' negative behaviors toward their children predicted the children's negative behaviors toward their fathers, suggesting a form of setting event or displaced behavior pattern. The children's negative behaviors toward their mothers correlated with the fathers' behaviors toward the mothers, suggesting a modeling pattern. These indirect paths underline the relevance of taking into account family interlocked relationships when studying child disruptiveness.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, Université du Québec à Hull, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavigueur
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Saucier
mesh_terms: D000184:Acting Out; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors