Abstract
We attempted to differentiate the family environments of youth with Conduct Disorder (CD) compared to youth with a depressive disorder. Participants were 34 adolescents from a residential treatment facility. The K-SADS-P was used to determine the youth's diagnosis, while their family environment was assessed by the Self Report Measure of Family Functioning Child Version. A MANOVA was used to compare the two diagnostic groups on seven family environment variables. Results indicate that adolescents with CD described their parents as having a permissive and ambiguous discipline style, while adolescents with a depressive disorder described their relationship with their parents as enmeshed. A discriminant function analysis, using the two family environment variables of enmeshment and laissez-faire family style as predictors, correctly classified 82% of the participants. Implications for treatment of youth with both types of diagnoses and their families are discussed.
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Jewell, J.D., Stark, K.D. Comparing the Family Environments of Adolescents with Conduct Disorder or Depression. Journal of Child and Family Studies 12, 77–89 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021310226400
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021310226400