A comparative evaluation of parenting styles for children diagnosed with conduct disorder at the out-patient service (OPS) of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and for students studying at Malabon High School, April-Dec 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This research aimed at showing the difference in parenting style of parents whose children were out patients diagnosed with conduct disorder at NCMH (clinical group) and those of parents with children studying at Malabon high school (non-clinical group).METHODOLOGY: Using a Parenting Scale translated in Filipino, 11 respondents from each group selected purposively were made to answer a 30 item questionnaire within 10- 15 minutes. The questions were grouped according to laxness, overreactivity and verbosity with corresponding factor loading.RESULTS: There was a mean of 2.66 for laxness, 2.54 for overreactivity and 1.92 for verbosity, with a total of 4.55 for the clinical group while the non clinical group had 2.5, 2.45 and 1.74 respectively for laxness, overreactivity and verbosity with a total of 3.95. Using the T test, it was determined that both clinical and non clinical group data had equal variances; without any significant differences noted between variances.CONCLUSION: Although parenting styles in families with children diagnosed with conduct disorder was dysfunctional, there was no statistical significance compared to that of parents from the non clinical group.