ABSTRACT
The family provides the first, and most important, social, emotional, interpersonal, economic, and cultural context for human development and, as a result, family relationships have a profound influence on the well-being of children and parents. The parent-child relationship has a pervasive influence on the psychological, physical, social, and economic well-being of children. Disturbed interpersonal relationships within the family are generic risk factors and positive interpersonal relationships are protective factors that are related to a wide variety of mental health problems from infancy to old age (Sanders, 1995). Many significant mental health, social, and economic problems are linked to disturbances in family functioning and the breakdown of family relationships (Chamberlain & Patterson, 1995; Patterson, 1982; Sanders & Duncan, 1995). Epidemiological studies indicate that family risk factors such as poor parenting, family conflict, and marriage breakdown strongly influence children’s development (e.g.,, Cummings & Davies, 1994; Dryfoos, 1990; Robins, 1991). Specifically, a lack of a warm positive relationship with parents; insecure attachment, harsh, inflexible, rigid, or inconsistent discipline practices; inadequate supervision of and involvement with children; marital conflict and breakdown; and parental psychopathology (particularly maternal depression) increase the risk that children develop major behavioral and emotional problems, including substance abuse, antisocial behavior and juvenile crime (e.g.,, Coie, 1996; Loeber & Farrington, 1998).
