In the Eye of the Beholder? Parent-Observer Discrepancies in Parenting and Child Disruptive Behavior Assessments

Abstract

This study examined parent-observer discrepancies in assessments of negative child behavior and negative parenting behavior to shed more light on correlates with these discrepancies. Specifically, we hypothesized that informant discrepancy between observers and parents on child behavior would be larger when parents reported high levels of negative parenting (and vice versa) because high levels of these behaviors might be indicators of negative perceiver bias or patterns of family dysfunctioning. Using restricted correlated trait-models, we analyzed cross-sectional observation (coded with the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System) and survey data (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory and Parenting Practices Interview) of 386 Dutch parent-child dyads with children aged 4-8 years (M_age = 6.21, SD = 1.33; 55.30% boys). Small associations between parent-reported and observed child and parenting behavior were found, indicating high discrepancy. In line with our hypothesis, this discrepancy was higher when parents self-reported more negative parenting or more negative child behavior. Parent-observer discrepancy on negative child behavior was also predicted by child gender. For boys parents reported higher levels of negative child behavior than were observed, but for girls parents reported lower levels of negative child behavior than were observed. These findings suggest that informant discrepancies between observers and parents might provide important information on underlying, problematic family functioning and may help to identify those families most in need of help.

Keywords: Childhood; Externalizing problems; Multi-informant discrepancies; Parenting.

Fig. 1

Negative child behavior restricted CT–C(M–1) model with standardized estimates

Fig. 2

Illustration of observer and parent-reported Z-scores of negative child behavior for families where parents report high (i.e., above median) negative parenting

Fig. 3

Negative parenting restricted CT–C(M–1) model with standardized estimates

Fig. 4

Illustration of observer and parent-reported Z-scores of negative parenting behavior for families where parents report high (i.e., above median) negative child behavior