Citation

Jewell JD, Stark KD. J. Child Fam. Stud. 2003; 12(1): 77-89.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1023/A:1021310226400

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We attempted to differentiate the family environments of youth with Conduct Disorder (CD) compared to youth with a depressive disorder. Participants were 34 adolescents from a residential treatment facility. The K-SADS-P was used to determine the youth's diagnosis, while their family environment was assessed by the Self Report Measure of Family Functioning Child Version. A MANOVA was used to compare the two diagnostic groups on seven family environment variables. Results indicate that adolescents with CD described their parents as having a permissive and ambiguous discipline style, while adolescents with a depressive disorder described their relationship with their parents as enmeshed. A discriminant function analysis, using the two family environment variables of enmeshment and laissez-faire family style as predictors, correctly classified 82% of the participants. Implications for treatment of youth with both types of diagnoses and their families are discussed.