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Formal Characteristics of Narratives as Predictors of Maladaptive Parenting

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Abstract

We examined the relationship between several characteristics of parents' narrative productions and two measures of maladaptive parenting. The two maladaptive parenting variables, indiscriminate responding to children's behavior and parent compliance with child disobedience, were derived from in-home observation of parent-child interactions. These were investigated in relationship to several structural aspects of mother Thematic Apperception Test narratives. Results showed that expressions of personal inadequacy and difficulty remaining task-focused during storytelling were related to mothers' failure to remain firm in the face of child disobedience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington State University, Richland, WA

    Paul S. Strand (Assistant Professor of Psychology)

  2. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA

    Robert White (Doctoral Student) & Lisa O. Touster

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  1. Paul S. Strand
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  2. Robert White
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  3. Lisa O. Touster
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Correspondence to Paul S. Strand.

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Strand, P.S., White, R. & Touster, L.O. Formal Characteristics of Narratives as Predictors of Maladaptive Parenting. Journal of Child and Family Studies 7, 171–186 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022991132249

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