Early maternal autonomy support as a predictor of child internalizing and externalizing behavior trajectories across early childhood

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of early maternal autonomy support in the prediction of developmental patterns of change in child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems from 2 to 7 years of age. The participants were 130 mother‐child dyads drawn from a community sample. Data were collected at four‐time points. Maternal sensitivity and autonomy support were assessed observationally at 12 and 15 months, respectively, child temperament was reported by both parents at 2 years, and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors were reported by both parents at 2, 4, and 7 years. The results indicated that, over and above child temperament and maternal sensitivity, mothers who supported their child's autonomy to a greater degree had children whose trajectories of internalizing behavior increased less and trajectories of externalizing behavior decreased more. These findings suggest that maternal autonomy support may be an important target for prompt intervention to promote healthier child behavioral and emotional adjustment trajectories.

Developmental Trajectories of Symptom-Specific Anxiety in Chinese Preschoolers: The Role of Maternal Anxious Rearing Behaviors

“…However, as children grow up and reach T3, they need more autonomy to explore their surroundings and practice coping abilities to develop confidence and independence. From this perspective, if a mother fails to fulfil the child's need for autonomy and appears to be overprotective instead, the child may not be able to develop confidence and independence, thereby being more susceptible to separation anxiety [41].…”

Parents' Reactions and their Reflection on Externalizing Behavior of their Children at Early Childhood: Literature Review

“…It is a sign of emotional or social maladjustment, particularly in early childhood. A child who displays "externalizing behavior" (EB) engages in inappropriate behaviors that have an impact on those around them, as opposed to "internalizing behavior," which refers to negative emotions directed towards oneself, such as worry, despair, social isolation, and withdrawal (Sirois et al, 2022). The majority of studies show that the externalizing and internalizing domains are favorably connected, even with the fact that they shown to be independent from one another (Oh, Greenberg & Willoughby, 2020).…”