Mother-child interactions: Comparison of a non-compliant clinic group and a non-clinic group

The present study compared the mother-child interactions of non-compliant children referred to a psychological clinic for treatment and non-clinic children. Socioeconomic status was included as a second factor. The dependent variables were those suggested by earlier research to differentiate clinic and non-clinic children or those previously manipulated in parent training programs. The results indicated that in a laboratory situation the interaction of non-compliant clinic children and their mothers can be differentiated from the interaction of non-clinic children and their mothers by the rate of compliance of the child and the mother's use of commands and criticisms. Furthermore, the two groups of mothers differed in their perception of their children in that the mothers of the non-compliant clinic children perceived their children as more maladjusted or deviant. Socioeconomic status did not exert a significant effect on any of the dependent measures.