Complexity in Families
Parenting Practices and Child Conduct Problems in a Norwegian Subclinical Sample: Variable and Person-Centered Approaches
Silje S. Hukkelberg,
Terje Ogden,
Corresponding Author
Silje S. Hukkelberg
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development (NUBU), Postboks 7053 Majorstuen, 0306 Oslo; Norway ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorTerje Ogden
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development
Search for more papers by this authorSilje S. Hukkelberg,
Terje Ogden,
Corresponding Author
Silje S. Hukkelberg
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development (NUBU), Postboks 7053 Majorstuen, 0306 Oslo; Norway ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorTerje Ogden
The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 02 February 2021
Abstract
Objective
The aims of this study were (a) to examine how different parenting practices connect to each other and to child conduct problems (variable-centered approach) and (b) to identify groups of parents who share the same parenting style and identify how these relate to child conduct problems (person-centered approach).
Background
Substantial evidence indicates that positive parenting practices are associated with lower levels of child conduct problems, whereas negative practices are associated with higher levels of child problem behavior. Research is limited when it comes to examining parenting practices at intake to parent management training in clinical Scandinavian samples.
Method
Participants were 551 Norwegian parents and their children (aged 3–12 years) with moderate to high levels of conduct problems. Parents reported on child conduct problems and parenting practices. Associations between different parenting practices and child conduct problems were examined using network and latent profile analyses.
Results
Three latent profiles of parenting were identified, each related to different levels of child conduct problems. The network of practices showed that parental mental distress and harsh discipline were directly associated with higher levels of child conduct problems. The majority of parents were characterized as permissive and displayed a mix of positive and harsh parenting.
Conclusion
Harsh parenting was related to higher levels of child conduct problems. Discipline skills appeared as especially important in the network analyses.
Implications
Parent training should address harsh discipline practices and parental mental distress, given that these are associated with more child conduct problems. Discipline skills appeared as the most important targets for changing overall parenting practices.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| fare12538-sup-0001-TableS1.docxWord 2007 document , 27.4 KB |
Supplemental Table S1 Means and Standard Errors for the Three Parenting Profiles |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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