The double-edged sword: child externalizing behaviors and parental stress in a partial hospitalization program

The primary aims of this study are: 1) to characterize parental stress levels and problematic behaviors of children with serious mental illness in a partial hospitalization program (PHP); and 2) to examine the unique associations between parental stress and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Given the challenges of parenting children with aggression and/or suicidal thoughts requiring PHP level of care, we hypothesized clinical levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors and parental stress. Due to the high acuity of this sample and impairment to family functioning often seen, we also expected no differences in the associations of type of behavior and parental stress.