Maternal satisfaction with clinic-referred children: Assessment by use of a single-subject methodology

Abstract

Prior research has indicated that maternal perception of or satisfaction with their children may be predicted by factors other than the child's behavior. The present study was designed to examine this issue further by using a single-subject methodology, improving the assessment procedures utilized, and increasing the number of predictor variables. It was hypothesized that factors other than child behavior would contribute to maternal satisfaction with the child but that the particular factor would vary across mothers. Two clinic-referred children and their mothers served as subjects. Prior to, during, and after treatment, the mothers completed a daily series of questionnaires to assess satisfaction with her child, daily child behavior, maternal depression, the marital relationship, and physical health. The results indicated that maternal satisfaction and maternal report of child behavior changed with treatment. The hypothesis was confirmed as physical health for one mother and the marital relationship for the second mother combined with child behavior to predict maternal satisfaction. Correlational analyses suggested that the maternal satisfaction with the child is related more to the child's negative behavior than positive behavior. The implications of the findings and of the methodology which was employed are discussed.