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The Relation Between Parenting Stress, Locus of Control and Child Outcomes: Predictors of Change in a Parenting Intervention

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship among parent stress, parent locus of control, child disruptive behaviors, and child coping competence over the course of an 8-week parenting program. We predicted that parent stress and parent locus of control are correlated, decreases in parent stress and increases in parent internal locus of control predict increases in child coping competence, and decreases in child disruptive behavior and higher levels of internal parent LOC would relate to decreases in parent stress level. Measures and data from the original Parenting Our Children to Excellence study were used. The study found decreasing parent stress and increasing parent internal locus of control lead to positive changes in child outcomes, and decreasing parent stress changes their attributions of control. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine changes in parent stress and locus of control, regarding child coping competence and child disruptive behavior, over time.

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Acknowledgments

This study would not have been possible without the collaboration of Marsha Hearn-Lindsey, Director, Child Care Answers, Indianapolis, of all the parents and children who participated in various aspects of the research, and of staff members who played major roles in data collection and program implementation, including Amanda Mosby, Sharon Hampton, and Stephanie Wynder. Their help and encouragement are gratefully acknowledged. This study was supported by Grant R49/CCR 522339 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the second author. The support and encouragement of Linda Anne Valle, Ph.D., and Michele Hoover is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street – 2 South, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Angela D. Moreland, Rochelle F. Hanson, Carrie Jackson & Jean E. Dumas

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, USA

    Julia W. Felton

Authors
  1. Angela D. Moreland
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  2. Julia W. Felton
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  3. Rochelle F. Hanson
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  4. Carrie Jackson
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  5. Jean E. Dumas
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Correspondence to Angela D. Moreland.

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Moreland, A.D., Felton, J.W., Hanson, R.F. et al. The Relation Between Parenting Stress, Locus of Control and Child Outcomes: Predictors of Change in a Parenting Intervention. J Child Fam Stud 25, 2046–2054 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0370-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0370-4

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