Acceptability of Treatments for Self-Abuse: Do Risk--Benefit Information and being a Parent Make a Difference?

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Acceptability of Treatments for Self-Abuse: Do Risk--Benefit Information and being a Parent Make a Difference?
Authors:	Pickering, David, Morgan, Sam B., Houts, Arthur C., Rodrigue, James R.
Source:	Journal of Clinical Child Psychology. Sep88, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p209. 8p.
Subjects:	Self-injurious behavior, Clinical child psychology, Psychology of women
Abstract:	We assessed married women's perceptions of the acceptability and effectiveness of four treatments for children's self-injurious behavior in relation to two variables: amount o frisk-benefit information and parent status. Of the four treatments (reinforcement of other behavior, overcorrection, time-out, and shock), reinforcement was generally rated as the most acceptable and shock as the least acceptable regardless of parent status or risk-benefit information. Parents, however, rated shock as less acceptable than did nonparents. Parents who received risk-benefit information rated all treatments as equally effective, whereas those who received no information rated shock as the least effective. These results suggest that treatments viewed as equally effective differ in acceptability and that parents are more likely than nonparents to reject treatments with aversive components. However, we emphasize the limitations of the conclusions to be drawn from this sample as well as the need to apply this methodology to the study of individuals who have direct contact with self-abusive children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	We assessed married women's perceptions of the acceptability and effectiveness of four treatments for children's self-injurious behavior in relation to two variables: amount o frisk-benefit information and parent status. Of the four treatments (reinforcement of other behavior, overcorrection, time-out, and shock), reinforcement was generally rated as the most acceptable and shock as the least acceptable regardless of parent status or risk-benefit information. Parents, however, rated shock as less acceptable than did nonparents. Parents who received risk-benefit information rated all treatments as equally effective, whereas those who received no information rated shock as the least effective. These results suggest that treatments viewed as equally effective differ in acceptability and that parents are more likely than nonparents to reject treatments with aversive components. However, we emphasize the limitations of the conclusions to be drawn from this sample as well as the need to apply this methodology to the study of individuals who have direct contact with self-abusive children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	0047228X
DOI:	10.1207/s15374424jccp1703_3