Abstract
It has been hypothesized that parental stress results in poor parent-child interactions. However, this has not been adequately researched due to the difficulty in measuring and quantifying parenting stress and parent-child interaction quality. Two measures were employed in the present study to evaluate the parent-child relationship. The Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) was used to provide a context in which to assess the quality of parent-child interactions, and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) was used as a measure of stress in the family system. The present study (1) developed a standardized behavioral rating system for the MIM, (2) tested 46 parent-child dyads with the MIM and PSI, and (3) assessed which subscales of the PSI were the best predictors of parent-child behavior observed during the MIM. Parents reporting more stress on the PSI were rated as displaying significantly lower quality (more negative) parentchild interactions. In addition, parents’ socioeconomic status accounted for 65 % of the variance, and parental stress accounted for an additional 9% of the variance, in MIM behavior ratings.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abidin, R. R. (1983). Parenting stress index: Form 6. Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
Abidin, R. R. (1990). Parenting stress index: Manual. Charlottesville, VA: Pediatric Psychology Press.
Anastopolous, A. D., Guevremont, D. C., Shelton, T. L., & DuPaul, G. J. (1992). Parenting stress among families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 20(5), 503–520.
Bartko, J. J. & Carpenter, W. T., Jr. (1976). On the methods and theory of reliability.Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 163(5), 307–317.
Bemesderfer, S. & Cohler, B. J. (1983). Depressive reactions during separation period: Individuation and self among children of psychotic depressed mothers. In H. L. Morrison (Ed.),Children of depressed parents: Risk, identification, and intervention (pp. 159–188). New York: Grune & Stratton.
Breen, M. J. & Barkley, R. A. (1988). Child psychopathology and parenting stress in girls and boys having Attention Deficit Disorder with hyperactivity.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 13, 265–280.
Cohen, J. (1960). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20(1), 37–45.
Cummings, E. M. & Cicchetti, D. (1990). Toward a transactional model of relations between attachment and depression. In M. T. Greenberg, D. Cicchetti & E. M. Cummings (Eds.),Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention (pp. 339–372). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Downey, G. & Coyne, J. C. (1990). Children of depressed parents: An integrative review.Psychological Bulletin, 108(1), 50–76.
Field, T. (1980). Interactions of preterm infants born to lower SES, teenage mothers. In T. Field, S. Goldberg, D. Stern & A. Sostek (Eds.),Interactions of high-risk infants and children. New York: Academic Press.
Field, T. (1992). Infants of depressed mothers.Development and Psychopathology, 4, 49–66.
Field, T., Healy, B., Goldstein, S., Perry, S., Bendell, D., Schanberg, S., Zimmerman, E. A., & Kuhn, C. (1988). Infants of depressed mothers show “depressed” behavior even with nondepressed adults.Child Development, 59, 1569–1579.
Field, T., Healy, B., Goldstein, S. & Gutherz, M. (1990). Behavior state matching and synchrony in mother-infant interactions of nondepressed versus depressed dyads.Developmental Psychology, 26, 7–14.
Greenberg, M. S. & Silverstein, M. L. (1983). Cognitive and behavioral treatments of depressive disorders: Interventions with adults. In H. L. Morrison (Ed.),Children of depressed parents: Risk, identification, and intervention (pp. 189–220). New York: Grune & Stratton.
Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four Factor Index of Social Status. Unpublished working paper. Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Jay, S. & Farran, D. C. (1981). The relative efficacy of predicting IQ from mother-child interactions using ratings versus behavioral count measures.Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 2, 165–177.
Jernberg, A. M. (1988). Promoting prenatal and perinatal mother-child bonding: A psychotherapeutic assessment of parental attitudes. In P. Fedor-Freyburgh & M. L. V. Vogel (Eds.),Prenatal and perinatal psychology and medicine: Encounter with the unborn (pp. 253–266). New Jersey: The Parthenon Publishing Group.
Jernberg, A. M. (1991). Assessing parent-child interactions with the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM). In C. E. Schaefer, K. Gitlin & A. Sandgrund (Eds.),Play diagnosis and assessment (pp. 493–515). New York: Wiley & Sons.
Jernberg, A., Booth, P., Koller, T. & Allert, A. (1991). Manual for the administration and the clinical interpretation of the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM): Preschool and school age (Revised). Chicago, IL: The Theraplay Institute.
Lewis, M. (1982) The social network systems model: Toward a theory of social development. In T. Field, A. Huston, H. Quay, L. Troll, & G. Finley (Eds.),Review of Human Development (pp. 180–210). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Lyons-Ruth, K., Zoll, D., Connell, D., & Grunebaum, H. U. (1986). The depressed mother and her 1 year old infant: Environment, interaction, attachment, & infant development. In E. Z. Tronick & T. Field (Eds.),Maternal Depression and Infant Disturbance (pp. 61–82). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Marschak, M. (1960). A method for evaluating child-parent interaction under controlled conditions.The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 97, 3–22.
McGaughey, M. (1986). Family functioning variables as predictors of child adjustment four years later. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, UVA, Charlottesville, VA.
Norton, A. J. & Glick, P. C. (1986). One parent families: A social and economic profile.Family Relations, 35, 9–17.
Pickens, J. & Field, T. (1993). Facial expressivity in infants of depressed mothers.Developmental Psychology, 29(6), 986–988.
Reid, W. H. & Morrison, H. L. (1983). Risk factors in children of depressed parents. In H. L. Morrison (Ed.),Children of depressed parents: Risk, identification, and intervention (pp. 33–46). New York: Grune & Stratton.
Richman, N., Stevenson, J., & Graham, P. (1982).Preschool to school: A behavioral study. New York: Academic Press.
Teti, D. M., Gelfand, D. M., Messinger, D. S. & Isabella R. (1995). Maternal depression and the quality of early attachment: An examination of infants, preschoolers, and their mothers.Developmental Psychology, 31, 364–376.
Upshur, C. C. (1981). Final report—Evaluation of first and affiliated toddler early intervention programs. Unpublished report, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Webster-Stratton, C. & Hammond, M. (1988). Maternal depression and its relationship to life stress, perceptions of child behavior problems, parenting behaviors, and child conduct problems.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16(3), 299–315.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McKay, J.M., Pickens, J. & Stewart, A.L. Inventoried and observed stress in parent-child interactions. Current Psychology 15, 223–234 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686879
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686879