Attributions for child behavior in parents of children without behavior disorders and children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Johnston, Charlotte, Freeman, Wendy·1997·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
DOI 10.1037//0022-006x.65.4.636

Abstract

Attributions for and reactions to inattentive-overactive, oppositional-defiant, and prosocial child behaviors were compared in 52 parents of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 42 parents of children without behavior disorders. Parent attributions and reactions elicited using written descriptions of child behavior, behaviors the parent recalled his or her own child displaying, and videotaped clips of the parent's own child's behavior all revealed a similar pattern. Compared with parents of children without behavior disorders, parents of children with ADHD saw inattentive-overactive and oppositional defiant behaviors as more internally caused, less controllable by the child, and more stable; and they had more negative reactions to such behaviors. For prosocial child behaviors, parents of children with ADHD rated the causes as less internal and less stable than control parents did.

Cited by (6)

  1. Families of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Review and Recommendations for Future Research
    Johnston, Charlotte, Mash, Eric J. · 2001 · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
  2. Enhancements to the Behavioral Parent Training Paradigm for Families of Children with ADHD: Review and Future Directions
    Chronis, Andrea M., Chacko, Anil, Fabiano, Gregory A., Wymbs, Brian T., Pelham, William E. · 2004 · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
  3. Parental and Child Cognitions in the Context of the Family
    Bugental, Daphne Blunt, Johnston, Charlotte · 2000 · Annual Review of Psychology
  4. Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
    Chronis, Andrea M., Jones, Heather A., Raggi, Veronica L. · 2006 · Clinical Psychology Review
  5. ADHD in Swedish 3- to 7-year-old children
    KADESJÖ, CHRISTINA, KADESJÖ, BJÖRN, HÄGGLÖF, BRUNO, GILLBERG, CHRISTOPHER · 2001 · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Attributions for child behavior in parents of children without behavior disorders and children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1037//0022-006x.65.4.636
The paper
Johnston, C., & Freeman, W. (1997). Attributions for child behavior in parents of children without behavior disorders and children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.65.4.636

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