Maternal psychological characteristics and parent-child relationships

This study compared the presentation of attachment quality and maternal psychological functioning among children diagnosed with a psychological/behavioral disorder to the presentation of attachment quality and maternal psychological functioning among children not diagnosed with a psychological/behavioral disorder.Participants included a clinical group composed of 8 Caucasian mothers of male children diagnosed with a behavioral/emotional disorder and a nonclinical group composed of 24 Caucasian mothers of male children not diagnosed with a behavioral/emotional disorder. The groups were compared on their responses to the Personality Assessment Screener, Parent/Child Reunion Inventory, and Relationship Questionnaire.Results found that mother psychological functioning was significantly related to ratings of insecure parent-child attachment. In addition, mother ratings of their adult attachment relationships were associated with ratings of parent-child attachment security/insecurity for 3 of 4 adult attachment styles. Information gathered during this study provided preliminary insight into the complex nature of parent-child relationships as they co-exist with maternal psychological functioning.