PARENT ATTRIBUTIONS FOR INATTENTIVE OVERACTIVE AND OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT CHILD BEHAVIORS

This study examined differences in attributions for and reactions to d escriptions of inattentive-overactive (IO) and oppositional-defiant (O D) child behaviors in 43 parents of children with attention deficit hy peractivity disorder. IO and OD behaviors did not differ in ratings of causal locus or stability, but OD behaviors were seen as more control lable than IO behaviors and elicited more negative reactions. Attribut ions of child behavior as controllable and internally caused were asso ciated with more negative reactions. Correlations suggested that paren ts' reports of greater IO or OD behaviors in their own children were a ssociated with more negative reactions to written descriptions of thes e behaviors. Correlations modest in size were revealed between parents ' negative reactions to OD behaviors and lower levels of parenting sat isfaction and efficacy. Negative reactions to IO behaviors were associ ated only with lower parenting satisfaction.