Examining subtypes of behavior problems among 3-year-old children, Part II: investigating differences in parent psychopathology, couple conflict, and other family stressors.
This study examined family stressors among 3-year-old children who were classified as hyperactive (HYP), hyperactive and oppositional defiant (HYP/OD), and non-problem based on mothers' reports of behavior. Children with HYP/OD were found to experience higher levels of family stressors than non-problem children on almost every family stressor variable. Compared to children with HYP, families of children with HYP/OD also tended to report more Axis II maternal psychopathology, Axis I paternal psychopathology, and high intensity couple conflict tactics. However, the HYP and HYP/OD group did not significantly differ on maternal Axis I psychopathology, paternal Axis II psychopathology, parental marital status, negative life events, frequency of couple conflict, or use of lower intensity couple conflict tactics. Parents of children with HYP and HYP/OD reported more negative life events, more maternal adult ADHD symptoms, and more maternal avoidance and verbal aggression during marital conflict than parents of non-problem children. Implications for treatment and etiology are discussed.
Goldstein
Lauren H
LH
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Harvey
Elizabeth A
EA
Friedman-Weieneth
Julie L
JL
Pierce
Courtney
C
Tellert
Alexis
A
Sippel
Jenna C
JC
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009679:Nuclear Family; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*