Journal Article

Effects of early maternal distress and parenting on the development of children's self-regulation and externalizing behavior

Choe, Daniel Ewon, Sameroff, Arnold J., Olson, Sheryl L.

2013

Overview

Emotional distress experienced by mothers increases young children's risk of externalizing problems through suboptimal parenting and child self-regulation. An integrative structural equation model tested hypotheses that mothers’ parenting (i.e., low levels of inductive discipline and maternal warmth) would mediate adverse effects of early maternal distress on child effortful control, which in turn would mediate effects of maternal parenting on child externalizing behavior. This longitudinal study spanning ages 3, 6, and 10 included 241 children, mothers, and a subset of teachers. The hypothesized model was partially supported. Elevated maternal distress was associated with less inductive discipline and maternal warmth, which in turn were associated with less effortful control at age 3 but not at age 6. Inductive discipline and maternal warmth mediated adverse effects of maternal distress on children's effortful control. Less effortful control at ages 3 and 6 predicted smaller relative decreases in externalizing behavior at 6 and 10, respectively. Effortful control mediated effects of inductive discipline, but not maternal warmth, on externalizing behavior. Findings suggest elevated maternal distress increases children's risk of externalizing problems by compromising early parenting and child self-regulation.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Adolescent mothers / Aggression - psychology / Behavior / Behavioral psychology / Child / Child Behavior - psychology / Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis / Child Behavior Disorders - psychology / Child development / Child psychology / Child, Preschool / Children / Discipline / Emotional distress / Emotional regulation / Executive Function / Externalizing behaviour / Externalizing problems / Female / Humans / Impulsive Behavior - diagnosis / Impulsive Behavior - psychology / Internal-External Control / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Maternal Behavior - psychology / Maternal distress / Mother-Child Relations / Mothers / Mothers - psychology / Neuropsychological Tests / Parenting - psychology / Parents & parenting / Psychological distress / Regular Articles / Regulation / Self concept / Self control / Self regulation / Side effects / Social Control, Informal / Stress / Stress, Psychological - psychology / Structural equation modeling / Teachers / Temperament / Young mothers