Towards a more comprehensive view of parenting : an investigation of parental cognitions

Abstract

Problems with parent training programmes, such as high attrition rates and poor skills maintenance, indicate that this approach is inadequate. This dissertation proposes that the difficulties surrounding parent training may be due to limited conceptualisations of parenting. The literature review paper highlights that parent training programmes have failed to consider individual differences. Research on parenting attitudes and attributions is reviewed and conclusions drawn suggest that these factors do not explain parenting behaviour. More recent research has emphasised parental beliefs as having a significant impact upon parenting. However, methodological difficulties including the lack of an operational definition of the term "belief" has made it difficult to draw conclusions. The empirical paper addresses these weaknesses and represents an original attempt at exploring the range of parental cognitions in relation to child behaviour between a clinical group of parents and middle class and working class controls. It was hypothesised that the clinical group would have significantly more negative cognitions than controls, that they would have a greater number of dysfunctional attitudes and would be less able to take a child-centred perspective. Results indicated that hypotheses were partially supported. Recommendations are made for targeting parental beliefs in future parenting interventions.

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