Mother Perceptions and Mother-Child Interactions: Comparison of a Clinic-referred and a Nonclinic Group

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare 40 clinic-referred conduct-disordered children and their mothers with 28 "normal" or nonclinic children and their mothers on mother behaviors, child behaviors, and mother reports of child behaviors. The study used two independent observational systems: One assessed the quantity of negative behaviors both 'in mothers and children, and the second assessed the qualitative and affective aspects of parent-child interactions. The results indicated that the two groups differed on child positive affect and dominance behaviors; on mother positive affect, submissiveness, praise, commands, and criticisms; and on maternal reports of child adjustment. Although maternal report of child:adjustment was the best discriminator between the two groups, the two observational systems provided additional information on the qualitative differences between clinic and nonclinic mother-child interactions. The implications of these findings for the assessment and treatment of conduct-disordered children and their families are discussed.