Parent practices and self-perceived control: evidence from parent gender and children's behavioural problems

Parent's tendency to attribute a failure in childrearing to low self-control and high child-control is generally associated with negative affect and harsh parenting. We hypothesized an association between low self-control and child behavioural profile (presence/absence of moderate externalizing problems). 118 parents of preschool children received the Parent Attribution Test, a measure of perceived control, and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire for parental practices. Results showed gender differences (mothers were more involved in childrearing and higher in control), but weak support for interactive effects among parenting practices, attribution style, and child problems: parents of difficult children reported lower PCF, but no more ineffective/negative parenting than parents of without-problem children.