EFFECTS OF DEVIANT CHILD-BEHAVIOR ON PARENTAL DISTRESS AND ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION IN LABORATORY INTERACTIONS

Levels of adult distress and ad lib alcohol consumption following inte ractions with child confederates were investigated in parents of child ren with no diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Sixty parents (20 marri ed couples and 20 single mothers) interacted with boys trained to enac t behaviors characteristic of either normal children or ''deviant'' ch ildren with externalizing behavior disorders - attention-deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and oppositional defi ant disorder (ODD). Relative to the normal child role, interactions wi th deviant confederates were rated as significantly more unpleasant, r esulted in feelings of role inadequacy, and produced significantly mor e anxiety, depression, and hostility. After the interactions, parents were given the opportunity to drink as much of their preferred alcohol ic beverage as they desired while anticipating a second interaction wi th the same child. The participants consumed more alcohol following ex posure to deviant as opposed to normal confederates.