CHILD EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIOR AND PARENTS STRESS - THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

We studied the role of social support (marital adjustment, spousal sup port, and global support) in the relationship between child externaliz ing behavior problems and mothers' and fathers' well being. Seventy-fi ve first grade children were classified into three groups (control, mo derate externalizing, and high externalizing) based on parent and teac her reports of behavior problems. Outcome measures were parents' perce ived negative impact of the child on social relationships, as well as negative and positive feelings toward parenting. There was evidence fo r main, moderating (buffering), and mediating effects of social suppor t indicators on outcome measures. Implications of these findings for f amily intervention are discussed.