Levels of aspiration of parents for their asthmatic, diabetic, and healthy children.

This study employed a modified Rotter Level of Aspiration (LOA) task to assess parents' goal setting for their children. The sample of 64 children (ages 6 to 13) and their 128 parents contained 16 triads from each of four groups: Asthmatic, asthma sibling, diabetic, and normal. Parents indicated their own goals for their children and could influence the goals that the children set for themselves. Aspects of general family functioning also were assessed. Mothers of asthmatic children showed no significant goal setting differences from comparison mothers. These mothers were less, rather than more, controlling, and there was no support for the theory that mothers of asthmatic children are narcissistically overcontrolling. Fathers of asthmatics were more rigid and less accommodating in their goal setting, and fathers of all chronically ill children had higher LOAs than did control fathers.