Abstract
Failure to solve problems related to parenting and other aspects of daily living is hypothesized to result in frustration or inability to cope, and lead to deviant parental behavior such as aggression or neglect. The present investigation provided support for a procedure for measuring parental problem-solving skill and compared the problem-solving abilities and child behavior problems of maltreating and nonmaltreating parents. Subjects were 40 parents with at least one child between the ages of three and twelve. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: (a) physically abusive parents (n = 9); (b) neglectful parents (n = 9); (c) nonmaltreating clinic parents seeking help for child behavior problems (n = 11); and (d) nonmaltreating, non-help-seeking community parents (n = 11). Abusive and neglectful parents were deficient in problem-solving skill as compared to clinic and community parents, yet there were many similarities in parental reports of child behavior problems for maltreating and nonmaltreating parents. Parental problem-solving skill did not correlate significantly with parental ratings of child behavior problems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ammerman, R. T., Cassisi, J. E., Hersen, M., and Van Hasselt, V. B. (1986). Consequences of physical abuse and neglect in children.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 6: 291–310.
Azar, S. T., Robinson, D. R., Hekimian, E., and Twentyman, C. T. (1984). Unrealistic expectations and problem-solving ability in maltreating and comparison mothers.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 52: 687–691.
Bauer, W. D., and Twentyman, C. T. (1985). Abusing, neglectful, and comparison mothers' responses to child-related and non-child-related Stressors.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 53: 335–343.
Bousha, D. M., and Twentyman, C. T. (1984). Mother-child interactional style in abuse, neglect, and control groups: Naturalistic observations in the home.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 93: 106–114.
Burgess, R. L., and Conger, R. D. (1977). Family interaction patterns related to child abuse and neglect: Some preliminary findings.Child Abuse Negl. 1: 269–277.
Burgess, E. L., and Conger, R. D. (1978). Fmaily interaction in abusive, neglectful and normal families.Child Develop. 49: 1163–1173.
Conaway, L. P., and Hansen, D. J. (1989). Social behavior of physically abused and neglected children: A critical review.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 9: 627–652.
Dawson, B., de Armas, A., McGrath, M. L., and Kelly, J. A. (1986). Cognitive problem-solving training to improve the child-care judgment of child neglectful parents.J. Fam. Viol. 1: 209–226.
Derogatis, L. R. (1983).SCL-90-R: Administration, Scoring, and Clinical Procedures Manual—II. Clinical Psychometric Research, Towson, MD.
D'Zurilla, T. J. (1986).Problem-Solving Therapy: A Social Competence Approach to Clinical Intervention, Springer, New York.
Eyberg, S. M., and Robinson, E. A. (1983). Conduct problem behavior: Standardization of a behavioral rating scale with adolescents.J. Clin. Child Psychol. 12: 347–357.
Eyberg, S. M., and Ross, A. W. (1978). Assessment of child behavior problems: The validation of a new inventory.J. Clin. Child Psychol. 16: 113–116.
Friedrich, W. N., and Boriskin, S. A. (1976). The role of the child in abuse: A review of the literature.Am. J. Orthopsychia. 46: 580–590.
Garbarino, J., and Crouter, A. (1978). Defining the community context for parent-child relations: The correlates of child maltreatment,Child Develop. 49: 604–616.
Hansen, D. J., St. Lawrence, J. S., and Christoff, K. A. (1985). The effectiveness of interpersonal problem-solving training with chronic aftercare patients on problem-solving component skills and effectiveness of solutions.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 53: 167–174.
Heifer, R. E. (1973). The etiology of child abuse.Pediat. 57: 777.
Kelly, J. A. (1983).Treating Child-Abusive Families: Intervention Based on Skills-Training Principles, Plenum, New York.
Lahey, B. B., Conger, R. D., Atkeson, B. M., and Treiber, F. A. (1984). Parenting behavior and emotional status of physically abusive mothers.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 52: 1062–1071.
Larrance, D. T., and Twentyman, C. T. (1983). Maternal attribution and child abuse.J. Abnor. Psychol. 92: 449–457.
MacMillan, V. M., Conaway, L. P., Tishelman, A. C., Smith, G. M., and Hansen, D. J. (1987, November).Parental problem-solving skills and child behavior problems in abusive,neglectful, clinic, and community families, Paper presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy Convention, Boston.
MacMillan, V. M., Guevremont, D. C., and Hansen, D. J. (1989). Problem-solving training with a multiply-distressed abusive and neglectful mother: Effect on social insularity and distress.J. Fam. Viol. 3: 313–326.
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. (1988).Study of National Incidence and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect: 1986. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.
Robinson, E. A., Eyberg, S. M., and Ross, A. W. (1980). The standardization of an inventory of child conduct problems.J. Clin. Child Psychol. 9: 22–28.
Rosenberg, M. S., and Reppucci, N. D. (1983). Abusive mothers: Perceptions of their own and their children's behavior.J. Clin. Child Psychol. 51: 674–682.
Salzinger, S., Kaplan, S., and Artemyeff, C. (1983). Mothers' personal social networks and child maltreatment.J. Abnor. Psychol. 92: 68–76.
Smith, J. M., Conaway, R. L., Smith, G. M., and Hansen, D. J. (1988, November).Evaluation of a problem-solving measure for use with physically abusive and neglectful parents, Paper presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy Convention, New York.
Spinetta, J. J., and Rigler, D. (1972). The child-abusing parent: A psychological review.Psychol. Bull. 77: 296–304.
Steele, B. F., and Pollock, C. B. (1974). A psychiatric study of parents who abuse infants and small childen. In Heifer, R. E., and Kempe, C. H. (eds.),The Battered Child (second edition), University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 3–21.
Trickett-, P. K., and Kuczynski, L. (1986). Children's misbehaviors and parental discipline strategies in abusive and nonabusive families.Develop. Psychol. 22: 115–123.
Twentyman, C. T., and Plotkin, R. (1982). Unrealistic expectations of parents who maltreat their children: An educational deficit that pertains to child maltreatment.J. Clin. Psychol. 38: 497–503.
Wahler, R. G. (1980). The insular mother: Her problems in parent-child treatment.J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 13: 207–219.
Wolfe, D. A., Fairbank, J. A., Kelly, J. A., and Bradlyn, A. S. (1983). Child abusive parents' physiological responses to stressful and nonstressful behavior in children.Behav. Assess. 5: 363–371.
Wolfe, D. A., Kaufman, K., Aragona, J., and Sandler, J. (1981).The Child Management Program for Abusive Parents, Anna Publishing, Winter Park, FL.
Wolfe, D. A., and Sandler, J. (1981). Training abusive parents in effective child management.Behav. Mod. 5: 320–335.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hansen, D.J., Pallotta, G.M., Tishelman, A.C. et al. Parental problem-solving skills and child behavior problems: A comparison of physically abusive, neglectful, clinic, and community families. J Fam Viol 4, 353–368 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00978576
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00978576