Dysphoria-related bias in maternal ratings of children.

Circumstantial evidence suggests that dysphoria creates a negative bias in caregivers' descriptions of child functioning. Past research has confounded informant and setting, making it unclear whether caregivers are biased or veridically reporting worse behavior in the home. In the present study, 137 low-income mothers watched videotapes of their own child and a control child performing a frustrating task. Mothers then completed 18 items...