Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-141).

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of callous-unemotional (CU) traits on treatment outcomes and processes in a 10-week behavioural parent training intervention with young boys referred for conduct problems (n=55, mean age 6.29 years). The study represents the first investigation of this risk factor in an early intervention trial, and extends the body of research examining the predictive utility of childhood CU traits in relation to subsequent antisocial behaviour. As predicted, CU traits were associated with greater conduct problems at pre-treatment, and these traits were related to poor treatment outcomes at 6-month follow-up even when controlling for baseline conduct problem severity. Consistent with the low levels of fearful inhibitions characteristic of the CU temperament, the behaviour of boys with high CU traits was less responsive to time-out discipline than that of boys without CU traits. Boys with high levels of CU traits also reacted with less affect to this discipline. The effects of CU traits on treatment outcomes and processes were not related to differences in treatment implementation by parents. These findings provide evidence that conduct problems in boys with CU traits are less responsive to changes in parenting processes than those of boys without these traits, and present important implications for the role of child temperament in the treatment of conduct problems.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2004. / Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-113). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004.

Thesis (M.Ed.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The importance of parenting behaviour as a risk factor for the development and persistence of externalising behaviour problems, and as a focus for early interventions, has led to a desire for the accurate measurement of parenting attitudes and practices. Several methods of measuring parenting behaviour have been employed in theoretical research and program evaluation, including self-report and observational measures. Both of these methods have advantages and limitations, but a systematic comparison of self-reports and observations of parenting behaviour has not been conducted. This study compared self- reports and observations of parental responsiveness and control in a sample of 68 parents of preschool children in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. Videotaped observations of parents interacting with their children in four set tasks (free play, drawing, pack-up and no distraction) were interval-sampled using behavioural items that paralleled self- report items on the Parenting Scale and the Child-Rearing Practices Questionnaire. In addition, parents completed questionnaires about their child's behaviour and temperament, and factors associated with parenting behaviour including parental psychopathology, social support, marital adjustment, disagreements about child-rearing and demographic characteristics. Reports of children's behaviour at preschool were also obtained from teachers. When the correlations between corresponding behaviour domains on the self-report and observational measures were compared, the only significant correlation was for parental warmth. Observations of parental control practices (such as permissiveness, inconsistency and overreactivity) were not significantly associated with self-reports of these behaviours. The observational system used in this study yielded observations of permissive and inconsistent parenting that had good validity and reliability, whereas self-reports of harsh and overreactive parenting practices were more validly and reliably assessed using self-report methods. Self-reports and observations of responsive parenting practices demonstrated results that are more equivocal. Possible explanations for these results and the implications for the use of self-report and observational measures in parenting research are discussed. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Psychiatry, 2005.