Comparison Of Parenting Styles Of Persons With And Without Spinal Cord Injury And Their Children’s Social Competence And Behavior Problems

Abstract

Objective: This study compared the parenting styles of 62 individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and 62 individuals without disabilities and the behavior of their children aged 6 through 13 years.

Methods: The relationship between parenting style and children’s behavior was assessed. Pairs were matched by gender of parent and age and gender of child. The Parenting Dimensions Inventory and the Child Behavior Checklist were administered via telephone.

Results: After controlling for income, the 2 groups did not differ in the parenting factors of warmth/structure and strictness. Their children did not differ in social competence or behavior problems.

Conclusion: Regardless of disability status, warmth and structure were found to be the aspects of parenting that were related to children’s outcomes.

Keywords:

• Behavior
• Parenting
• Spinal cord injuries
• Disability
• Child
• Parents