DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN MOTHERS AND FATHERS PERCEPTIONS OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS PROBLEM BEHAVIOR - A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF PARENT-ADOLESCENTAGREEMENT ON INTERNALIZING AND EXTERNALISING PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

One hundred and ninety-eight adolescents and their mothers (N = 189) a nd fathers (N = 136) participated in a 4-year longitudinal study. Adol escent problem behaviour was assessed by the Youth Self-Report (YSR) a nd the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). In addition, parental stress a nd marital adjustment were determined. Results showed that mothers and fathers showed high agreement, especially about their daughters, wher eas parents and adolescents showed little agreement. Agreement was hig her for internalising than for externalising behaviours. In general, a dolescents reported more symptomatology than their parents did. Howeve r, mothers' ratings of their children's behaviours were significantly correlated with adolescents' self-ratings, but fathers' ratings were n ot. Statistical tests of correlations showed that mothers experiencing stress caused by marital problems perceived more problem behaviours i n their children. Fathers' perceptions were relatively unaffected by p ersonal adjustment. However, poor marital adjustment perceived by both parents showed a significant negative relation to adolescent external ising problem behaviour.