AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY, PROBLEM SOLVING AND COPING STYLES OF PARENTS REFERRED FOR PARENT TRAINING ABSTRACT Parents of children with behavioural problems have been found to experience greater difficulties in problem solving (Pakaslahti, Asplund-Peltola, & Keltikangas- Jdrvinen, 1996,1998), and to be less specific in their autobiographical memory (Hutchings, Nash, Williams & Nightingale, 1998). However, links between problem solving and the autobiographical memory recall of parents of children with behavioural problems has not yet been researched. Nor has research considered how these factors may relate to their coping strategies. This paper considers such links, particularly in relation to the tasks of behaviOUral training programmes. Associations between the Parent-Child Autobiographical Memory Test (PCAMT, Hutchings, 1996), and the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT, Williams and Broadbent, 1986) were explored. In addition, differences between parents referred for parent training (n=19), and a control group (n=1 5) were explored on autobiographical memory recall, problem solving (Problem Solving Inventory, Heppner & Peterson, 1982), coping strategies (Brief COPE, Carver, 1997), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory 11, Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996). Relationships between these variables were also explored. There were significant associations between AMT and PCAMT scores on both overgeneral recall (r (34) = . 59, p=. 00) and specific memory recall (r (34) = . 59, p= . 00). Overgeneral memories on both measures were significantly associated with emotion focused coping strategies (AMT, r (34) = . 49, p=. 00, and PCAMT, r (34)=. 36, p=. 04). Group comparisons showed that parents referred for parent training reported significantly more maladaptive coping strategies than the control group, and more problem focussed coping, problem solving confidence and depression. However, no significant differences remained once depression was controlled for. Findings are discussed in relation to the tasks of parent training programmes, directions for future research and implications for clinical practice.