Negative Emotions and Maternal Reports of Behavior Problems in Clinic-Referred Children:

Abstract

The present study examined the association of maternal depression and anger to mother's reports of child behavior problems. It was hypothesized that maternal anger and depression would be positively correlated with the severity of reports of child behavior problems. There was a significant positive correlation between maternal depression and maternal repots of somatic complaints and broad-band internalizing forms of child behavior problems. In contrast, maternal anger was not significantly related to maternal reports of child behavior problems. The results are discussed in terms of possible ethnic and class differences in the experience of negative emotions.