Predictors of Maternal Satisfaction Regarding Clinic-Referred Children: Methodological Considerations

Abstract

We examined predictors of maternal satisfaction in clinic-referred children and added several methodological improvements to previous studies. These included a more comprehensive coding system used with the entire family, measures of mothers' satisfaction with both the child's positive and negative behavior, and an older participant sample. Thirty-three families with one clinic-referred child between 6 and 11 years of age served as participants. Five different criterion measures of maternal satisfaction were used (including both positively and negatively valued ones). Predictors included maternal depression and direct observation of the content and affect of all family members. Results indicated that different predictors accounted for each of two negatively valued satisfaction measures only: Mothers' level of depression and neutral affect predicted one measure, whereas maternal depression and child compliance predicted the other. Further methodological improvements for future research are recommended.