Correlation between personality traits of parents and type of behavioral disorders in children

ABSTRACT

Family members' characteristics, especially parents personality traits can affect on the behaviors of children. This study was conducted to clarify different dimensions of personality traits in parents of children and adolescents suffering from behavioral disorders and assess its relationship with type of the disorder. This descriptive-analytical study was done in Isfahan city, central part of Iran, in 2009. Samples were 200 children aged 5 to 15 referring to psychiatric outpatient clinics selecting by available sampling method and their behavioral disorders were diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Long form of NEO-PI-R questionnaire was fulfilled by parents. Then data were analyzed using independent t, ANOVA and ANCOVA tests. Children's anxiety disorder was related with parents' angry-hostility, actions, achievement striving, restraint, deliberation traits and total score; children's mood disorder was related with parents' altruism, order, achievement striving and deliberation traits; children's disorganized behavioral disorder was related with parents' positive emotions, fantasy, feelings, achievement striving traits and total score; and children's excretion disorder was related with parents' restraint trait [P<0.05]. Behavioral disorders of children are related to parents' personality traits