Maternal Acceptability of Treatments for Child Withdrawal and Agression

Abstract

Using a case analogue methodology, this study examined the acceptability of four alternative treatment procedures (positive reinforcement, self-instruction, time-out, and reprimands) as applied to one externalizing child problem, aggression, and one internalizing child problem, withdrawal. One hundred and three mothers served as raters and completed the Treatment Evaluation Inventory. The identity of the interventionist (parents/teachers vs. psychologist) and previous therapeutic effects (weak vs. no information) were manipulated. Results confirm previous reports that positive interventions are judges to be more acceptable than negative ones and this was shown as applied to withdrawal as well as aggression. In addition, self-instruction was found to be an acceptable intervention. No significant main or interaction effects for the Mediator or Previous Therapeutic Effects variable were found. The results are related to prior research, and limitations and future directions are discussed.