Introduction: In recent years, researchers have become interested in evaluating mediator as well as family variables. The purpose of this study was to assess relationship between family variables (parents mental disorder, child rearing patterns and marital satisfaction), adolescent self understanding and conduct disorders.

Methods: The relationship among family variables (mental problems , child rearing pattern, marital satifaction), self- understanding and conduct disorders in youth were assessed in 57 young subjects and their parents (29 normal and 28 with conduct disorders). The parents compeleted MMPI short form, child rearing patterns qustionniare and Enrich marital satisfaction qustionniare. Twenty- nine normal and 28 conduct disorder yougsters were interviewed using self- understanding interview (SUI).

Results: Stepwise regression suggested that there were significant relations among conduct disorders, parents’ mental problems, child rearing pattern and youth self- understanding. The variables which entered the model were father’s schizophrenia, continue dimension, social dimension, father’s depression, father’s paranoia, father’s despot, mother’s despot and father’s authoritative pattern. Path analysis suggeseted that self- understanding plays the role of a mediator among marital satisfacion, child rearing patterns, parents’ mental disorders with conduct disorders.

Conclusion: Self- understanding is a mediator between parental mental disorders and children ’s conduct disorders. Parent s’ mental disorders and despot child rearing affect self- understanding and predispose to conduct disorders. Father ’s mental disorder and despot child rearing more than mother ’s can product conduct disorders.

Hakim Research Journal 2006 9(3): 32- 38.