Videotaped family interaction: Differences reflecting presence and type of child disturbance.

Analyzed behavior during videotaped family interaction in an unstructured situation (interpreted as interpersonally stressful). 20 families contained a disturbed child (aggressive, socially withdrawn, or distractible); 10 were normal control families. Repeated judgments were made on evaluative, directing, and activity dimensions. Analyses of covariance (covariate: amount of talking) showed significant differences between fathers but not mothers or children. Fathers of normal children were evaluatively neutral and nondirecting (suggesting low attempts to control others) and untalkative (suggesting social independence). Fathers of disturbed children showed controlling and/or dependent behavior: (a) fathers of distractible children were evaluatively extreme and talkative; (b) fathers of withdrawn children were neutral, nondirecting, and talkative; and (c) fathers of aggressive children were negatively extreme, directing, and untalkative. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)