Caregivers' perceptions about their children identified as having atypical behavior

Author

Catherine Swanson Cain

Date of Award

12-2003

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Susan Benner

Abstract

Past research on atypical behavior in young children has primarily forused on the caregiver and/or child, isolating characteristics such as the caregiver's parenting or the child's temperament (Deater-Deckard & O'Connor, 2000; Thomas & Clark, 1998). Current research has moved toward trying to build a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of caregiver-child relationships (Bugental, 2000). One way of trying to understand caregiver-child relationships is to look at perceptions the caregiver has of the relationship (Stem & Smith, 1999). Caregiver perceptions include conscious reflections, what the caregiver knows and thinks about, and what the caregiver chooses to talk about (Bugental, 2000). Differences in family relationships, values and rules, history, the environment, practices of society, and cultural norms must also be considered (Grotevant, 1997; Hinde, 1991; Kitayama & Markus, 2000). The complexity of these many influential factors suggests the need to study caregiver relationships with their child in more detail (Baldwin, 1992; Berlin & Cassidy, 1999; Crittenden, 1988). This qualitative study involves the exploration of caregivers' perceptions about their relationships with their children whom have been identified as having atypical behavior, taking into consideration the caregivers' perceptions of the many contextual factors that influence the relationship across time.

Recommended Citation

Cain, Catherine Swanson, "Caregivers' perceptions about their children identified as having atypical behavior. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2003.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/5113