Parents' stress level vital when treating disruptive children.(What's New in Research)

Investigators examined the separate and unique influences of mothers and fathers on the adjustment of children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), with emphasis on differences between mothers and fathers in their responses to their child and their child's disruptive behavior. They found that both mothers and fathers reported clinically elevated levels of child-related stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Inventory *--Child Domain (PSIC), but not parent-related stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Inventory--Parent Domain (PSI-P).

Participants were drawn from a sample of 97 clinic-referred families enrolled in a larger treatment study of 3- through …