Semester of Graduation

Spring 2024

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Department of Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Research has consistently linked various dimensions of parenting to the development of conduct problems (CP) and past research has found that the presence of elevated callous-unemotional (CU) traits may alter the association between some types of parenting and CP. These findings have been limited by the focus on broad dimensions of parenting, with the exceptions of corporal punishment and time-out. However, this potential moderating effect of CU traits has not been explored for many other forms of discipline. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the different effects of specific forms of discipline on a child’s CP by testing whether CU traits moderates their association with CP using multi-informant assessments of both CU traits and CP in a clinic referred sample of 88 (M = 10.36; SD = 2.63) youth between the ages of 6 to 17 years. Overall, our results were not consistent with most of our study hypotheses. Most parenting practices were not significantly associated with CP and the few interactions with CU traits that were statistically significant were not in the expected direction. Specifically, the use of tangible rewards and taking away desired privileges were more strongly correlated to CP for those high on CU traits. We interpret these results as being due to the use of a clinic-referred sample. That is, parents in our sample likely were trying multiple discipline techniques to reduce their child’s CP, none of which were working. This seemed especially true for children with elevated CU traits. Thus, our findings support the need to make more effective interventions for CP, especially for those children with elevated CU traits, available to families.

Date

3-15-2024

Committee Chair

Frick, Paul J.

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Available for download on Friday, March 14, 2031

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