Stress, resources, and coping in parents of children with externalizing and internalizing behaviours.

The primary aim of the present study was to use McCubbin and Patterson's (1983) Double ABCX model as a framework to examine the extent to which child behaviour problems (Factor A), resources (Factor B), and coping strategies (Factor C) predict parental stress (Factor X), and whether resources and coping strategies moderate the relationship between child behaviour problems and stress in mothers $(n=80)A$ of school-aged clinic-referred children. A second purpose involved examining stress differences across mothers of children with primarily internalizing $(n=16),$ externalizing $(n=18),$ and normative behaviours $(n=17).$ Finally, the study compared perceptions of stress and child behaviour problems between mothers $(n=13)$ and fathers $(n=13).$ The A, B, and C Factors of the ABCX model each contributed significantly to the prediction of the X Factor. Utilizing regression analyses, coping and resources did not appear to serve as moderators of the stressor-stress relationship. However, using elaboration analyses a different pattern of findings emerged. That is, family social support moderated the relationship between child behaviour problems (internalizing, externalizing, total problem behaviours) and parental stress. Family cohesion/adaptability, active coping, and marital/partner satisfaction moderated the relationship between internalizing behaviours (but not externalizing or total problem behaviours) and parental stress. Psychological distress appeared to be a mediator of the relationship between internalizing problems and stress. In general, mothers of children with externalizing problems experienced more parental stress than mothers of children with internalizing problems. Both groups of clinical mothers experienced less stress than mothers of normative children. Fathers and mothers did not differ with regards to perceptions of child behaviour problems and stress.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .T72. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 59-08, Section: B, page: 4490. Adviser: R. Robert Orr. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Windsor

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Tsagarakis, Catherine I.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Orr, R. Robert,

Licence

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_CA

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/3623

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwindsor.scholaris.ca:20.500.14776/3623