Verschil en samenhang tussen de ouder-kindrelatie, ouderlijke competentiebeleving en negatieve levensgebeurtenissen

Abstract

This present study examines the differences between multi-problem families (n=115) and families representing the general Dutch population (n=148). The study examines the parent-child relationship, especially attachment and parent-child conflicts, parental perceived competence and negative life events. This study is based on data of multi-problem families from an ongoing study on the effectiveness of Intensieve Pedagogische Thuishulp (IPT) and data of families representing the general Dutch population coming from structured questionnaires consisting of parts of the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index (NOSI), Psychological Availability and Reliance on Adult Questionnaire (PARA) and negative life events based on multiple questionnaires. The findings show that children from multi-problem families are less attached to their parents and have more parent-child conflicts than children from families representing the general Dutch population. The correlation between attachment and parent-child conflicts is confirmed by the parents. The results also show that parents from multi-problem families score lower on parental perceived competence and that these families are passing through more negative life events than families representing the general Dutch population. There is no positive correlation between these two aspects. Finally there is a strong positive correlation between the degree of parental perceived competence and insecure attachment. Strengths of this study are anonymity, both parent and child filled in the questionnaires and completed them independently. Limitations are the method of data collection, the distribution and complex questionnaires for children.