Date of Award

2010

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

Psy.D.

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Marianna Footo-Linz

Second Advisor

Keith Beard

Third Advisor

Paige Muellerleile

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between parental cognitive variables and outcomes related to the treatment of externalizing disorders has received limited attention in the research literature. The present study was completed in order to determine whether the parental cognitive variables of self-efficacy or locus of control were related to the level of involvement parents had in addressing their child’s behavior problems. It was hypothesized that a) parents with external locus of control would be likely to be less involved in their child’s treatment than parents with a more internal locus of control and b) that parents with low parental self-efficacy would be likely to be less involved in their child’s treatment than parents with high parental self-efficacy. It was also hypothesized that a) parents with an external locus of control would be more likely to talk about the steps they are taking in a negative way than parents with an internal locus of control and b) parents with low parental self-efficacy would be more likely to talk about the steps they are taking in a negative way than parents with high parental self-efficacy. Findings were mixed regarding the hypotheses. Results will be discussed in relationship to their implications for intervention.

Subject(s)

Behavior disorders in children.

Parental influences.

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