Attributions of responsibility for children's mental health problems: parents and professionals at odds.

Surveys of 102 mothers of inner-city youths with mental health problems and their clinicians examined discrepancies in mothers' and professionals' causal and solution attributions for the children's problems. Greater causal responsibility was attributed to mothers by professionals than by mothers, while they agreed on the children's responsibility. They disagreed about their respective solution responsibilities, though agreeing that causally responsible children should help with solutions. Mothers considered many more community resources for solutions than did professionals. Implications for improvement of services to urban children are discussed.