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Abstract

Four parental coping efforts—punitive disciplinary efforts, optimistic comparisons, selective ignoring, and resignation—are examined for their effectiveness in reducing parental distress and difficulties. Data are drawn from two sets of interviews with a large metropolitan population; effectiveness is assessed net of gender, socioeconomic status, ongoing marital problems, age and number of children, and initial level of difficulty. For both behavior problems of younger children and the future direction of older children, more frequent punitive disciplinary efforts and less optimistic comparisons were associated with greater parental distress. A resigned, impotent stance was also associated with greater parental distress for outcome concerns but not for behavior problems. None of the coping efforts directly affected later parental problems; rather, the initial level of difficulty and the composition of one's family (ages, number, and residence) were the primary influence. Within the range of coping efforts examined, it seems that the effects of common parental efforts are largely limited to reducing parental distress.

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Coping with Parental Problems

Abstract

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