Agreement between Parent and Child Reports on Parental Behaviors

• DOI: 10.2307/353104
• Publication Date: 2006-05-05T06:54:15Z
• Authors: Jenn-Yun Tein; Mark W. Roosa; Marcia Michaels
• Keywords: Child rearing

The familial environment, especially the pervading parental attitude or emotional tone of parent-child interactions, has long been identified as an important factor in understanding child development. It is related to a variety variables such independence, self-esteem, moral development, anxiety, conduct problems, and school adaptation achievement (Demo, Small, & Savin-Williams, 1987; Johnson, Shulman, Collins, 1991; Litovsky Dusek, 1985; Maccoby Martin; 1983; Peterson, Becker, Shoemaker, Lauria, Hellmer, 1961). A common problem this research difficulty assessing behaviors. Several studies have shown that children parents overlapping but discrete perceptions their relationships each other's behavior (Cashmore Goodnow, Demo et al., Jessop, 1982; Noller Callan, 1988; Phares, Compas, Howell, 1989). For example, study divorce, Fogas Wolchick (1986) found correlations between mothers' early adolescent children's reports parenting behaviors ranged .11 .41. Similarly, while studying agreement college freshmen on subscales Child's Report Parental Behavior Inventory (CRPBI; Schaefer, 1965a), Schwarz, Barton-Henry, Pruzinsky (1985) from .30 Fathers' fathers' correlated .19 .29. Improving our discrepancies parents' behavior, for preadolescent children, essential influence From developmental point view, can be seen one characterize effective parenting. As Schaefer Keith (1985), among others, shown, people's thoughts actions are often based definition situation. influenced by attitudes rather than actual those reported (Demo 1987). most likely produce intended consequences only if they perceived defined similarly parent. few done (Fogas Wolchick, 1986; Schwarz 1985). However, factors might contribute incongruences seem ignored research. In addition, how perceive either and/or both whether agree more with mother father warranted better interactions consequences. goals fourfold. First, we attempt replicate previous findings level fathers mothers two-parent families children. results will reflect cross-generational validity reporting Second, test differences examining amount difference children' s parent's behavior. Third, determine fathers. Finally, examine several gender family income relate parent reports. interested female do male these analyses implications choosing single reporter represent decisions about aggregating data across members create scores improve measurement (Schwarz al. …