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Depression and maternal attribution style in mothers of preschool children

Lothestein, Mary Anne W.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056129807

Abstract Details

1990, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
The present study examines the relation between depressive symptoms in mothers of preschool children and attributional style for the child's behavior. The subjects were 54 mothers of preschool children, ages 3 to 6. Two groups of mothers were formed, the depressed group and the nondepressed group, based on score on the Beck Depression Inventory. Other measures used were the Parental Attitude Test, the parent and teacher forms of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, the Attributional Style Questionnaire, and the Maternal Attribution Test. The Maternal Attribution Test, devised by the author, measures the dimensions of the mother's perception of the causes for her child's behaviors. The hypotheses were that the depressed mothers would have more negative perceptions of their children, that they would be more accurate in their perception than the nondepressed mothers, that the depressed mothers would have a "depressive attributional style", and finally, that maternal attribution style would be a predictor of the mother's perception of her child. Results included the finding that the two groups were significantly different in SES and mother's age. These findings were explained in terms of the social context of depression in women. Differences were found between the depressed and nondepressed m others' perceptions of their children as measured by parental attitude, and perception of number of behavior problems. On some analyses, SES had an effect on the variation of perception scores, and this finding was discussed. Age of the mother did not have an effect on perception scores of the mother. There were no differences between boys and girls in how their mothers perceived them and there was one difference in perception based on age of the child. Although the depressed mothers felt more negatively about their children, the teachers of those children reported no significant difference in their behavior in school. Depressed mothers were found to have an "even-handed" attributional style for their children's behavior, while nondepressed mothers were found to have a positive attributional style. Finally, number of behavior problems perceived by the mother, and attributional style for negative behavior were the best predictors of the mothers' perception of their children.
Jane Kessler (Advisor)
135 p.
Depression maternal attribution style mothers preschool children

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lothestein, M. A. W. (1990). Depression and maternal attribution style in mothers of preschool children [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056129807

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lothestein, Mary Anne. Depression and maternal attribution style in mothers of preschool children. 1990. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056129807.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lothestein, Mary Anne. "Depression and maternal attribution style in mothers of preschool children." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1990. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1056129807

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1056129807
613
© 1990, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.