title: Parental competence and maltreatment: the curvilinear influence of plan complexity.
abstract: A parent's ability to plan for child behavior problems was proposed to influence the relationship between parental competence and attitudes/beliefs about parenting behaviors. One hundred and one parents from three community sites completed questionnaires measuring parental competence, plan complexity, and attitudes/beliefs about parenting. Results indicated that plan complexity significantly influenced the relationship between parental competence and judgments about corporal punishment. The same influence existed between parental competence and power independence. We discuss these results with regard to forwarding theoretical work on planning processes, as well as practical implications for enhancing parent education curricula to better address the constructive management of difficult child behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. als0033@tigermail.auburn.edu
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Samp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting; D011340:Problem Solving; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States