In the Eye of the Beholder? Parent-Observer Discrepancies in Parenting and Child Disruptive Behavior Assessments

Abstract

This study examined parent-observer discrepancies in assessments of negative child behavior and negative parenting behavior to shed more light on correlates with these discrepancies. Specifically, we hypothesized that informant discrepancy between observers and parents on child behavior would be larger when parents reported high levels of negative parenting (and vice versa) because high levels of these behaviors might be indicators of negative perceiver bias or patterns of family dysfunctioning. Using restricted correlated trait–models, we analyzed cross-sectional observation (coded with the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System) and survey data (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory and Parenting Practices Interview) of 386 Dutch parent-child dyads with children aged 4–8 years (Mage = 6.21, SD = 1.33; 55.30% boys). Small associations between parent-reported and observed child and parenting behavior were found, indicating high discrepancy. In line with our hypothesis, this discrepancy was higher when parents self-reported more negative parenting or more negative child behavior. Parent-observer discrepancy on negative child behavior was also predicted by child gender. For boys parents reported higher levels of negative child behavior than were observed, but for girls parents reported lower levels of negative child behavior than were observed. These findings suggest that informant discrepancies between observers and parents might provide important information on underlying, problematic family functioning and may help to identify those families most in need of help.

Sleep-related difficulties in healthy children and adolescents

“…In childhood and pre-puberty, previous results on gender differences have been inconsistent [11,13,17]. Since parental reports were used for children, one possible explanation for the present results might lie in a parental tendency to rate sleep and behavioral difficulties worse in boys than girls [4,40]. Previous studies have suggested that boys are more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior, while girls are more likely to exhibit internalizing behavior [40,41].…”

“…Since parental reports were used for children, one possible explanation for the present results might lie in a parental tendency to rate sleep and behavioral difficulties worse in boys than girls [4,40]. Previous studies have suggested that boys are more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior, while girls are more likely to exhibit internalizing behavior [40,41]. When the children cannot sleep at night, boys might be more likely to receive attention through acting-out behavior, while girls might be more compliant and, therefore, attract less attention [41].…”

Co-occurring change in children's conduct problems and maternal depression: Latent class individual participant data meta-analysis of the Incredible Years parenting program

“…First, both conduct problems and maternal depressive symptoms were measured using parent report. While effects of parenting programs on observed child behavior tend to be of similar magnitude as effects on parent-reported child behavior (Menting et al, 2013), parent-reported and observed measures of child behavior correlate only modestly (Moens, Weeland, Van der Giessen, Chhangur, & Overbeek, 2018). In our case, using parent-reports of conduct problems seems both a strength and a limitation.…”

Screening Methods and When to Use Them

“…Adolescents' self-report of internalizing symptoms may be different (and more valid) than reports by their parents (Kuhn et al 2017). There is also some evidence to suggest that sociodemographic, economic, and family factors can also influence disagreement in symptom reporting between children and parents and between parents and teachers (Moens et al 2018). For example, living in a oneparent family has been associated with both teacher-parent disagreement and childparent disagreement (Van Roy et al 2010;Cheng et al 2018).…”