Preventing conduct disorder: a study of parental behaviour management and support needs with children aged 3-5

Managing antisocial behaviour in very young children presents many problems for parents, often leading to personal difficulties for them and the possible development of delinquency in their children as they grow older. This paper examines literature on the early onset of this behaviour and presents data from a sample of 265 parents of children enrolled in preschools or child care centres on their perceptions of their young children's behaviour and of their own support needs. Results suggest that most parents preferred informal sources of support on child management and that only minor behaviour management problems were experienced by most families in this sample. For those experiencing more aggressive behaviours in their children evidence was noted, among other things, of inconsistency in their use of management strategies, greater use of punishment and a lack of confidence, and a need for help with personal coping strategies. Implications for parent support programs are considered.