Low-income parents are more likely to have a child with disruptive behaviors. Furthermore, these parents are likely to struggle with low expectations about the future, which can interfere with treatment response to even the most effective treatments. The purpose of this study was to explore correlates of low-income parents’ expectations, specifically hopelessness and optimism, in families with clinic-referred disruptive young children. Using baseline data from an intervention trial (Jones et al., 2021), we used a multi-informant approach to test whether parenting behaviors, child misbehavior, and parental daily stressors were related to parent hopelessness and optimism. Results based on the Everyday Stress Index indicated that only daily stressors, particularly those related to relationships and responsibilities, were related to parent feelings of hopelessness and optimism. Results were interpreted through transactional and ecological systems theories, particularly the Family Stress Model (Conger & Conger, 2002), as well as a low-income parent’s self-efficacy as a caregiver. Clinical implications are discussed.

低收入父母更有可能生出有破坏性行为的孩子。此外，这些父母可能会因对未来的低期望而苦苦挣扎，这可能会干扰对即使是最有效的治疗的治疗反应。本研究的目的是探讨低收入父母的期望与诊所转诊的破坏性幼儿家庭的相关性，特别是绝望和乐观。使用来自干预试验的基线数据（Jones 等人，2021 年），我们使用多信息方法来测试养育行为、孩子的不当行为和父母的日常压力源是否与父母的绝望和乐观情绪有关。基于日常压力指数的结果表明，只有日常压力源，特别是与人际关系和责任相关的压力源，与父母的绝望和乐观情绪有关。通过交易和生态系统理论，特别是家庭压力模型 (Conger & Conger, 2002) 以及低收入父母作为照顾者的自我效能来解释结果。临床意义进行了讨论。