Prediction of externalizing behavior problems from early to middle childhood: The role of parental socialization and emotion expression

Abstract

Parental emotions and behaviors that contribute to continuity and change in preschool children's externalizing problems were examined. Mothers and fathers were observed interacting with their children, and child-rearing styles were reported. Teachers, mothers, and children reported children's antisocial, oppositional behavior. Externalizing problems showed strong continuity 2 and 4 years later. Proactive parenting (i.e., supportive presence, clear instruction, and limit setting) predicted fewer behavior problems over time, after controlling for initial problems; the converse was true for parental anger. In contrast, the hypothesized ameliorative contribution of parents' positive emotion was not found. Parental contributions were most influential for children whose initial problems were in the clinical range. In particular, parental anger predicted continuation of problems over time. Paternal, as well as maternal, influences were identified. Examination of parental emotions and inclusion of fathers is important to research and intervention with young antisocial children.

Gender as predictor of social rejection: the mediating/moderating role of effortful control and parenting. [El género como predictor de rechazo social: el papel mediador / moderador del control con esfuerzo y crianza de los hijos]

“…Then, in this study parenting practices (PP) could mediate or moderate the relation between sex and social rejection, i.e., sex may have an effect on parenting and generate different educational traits for boys and girls that could lie behind the different trajectories in social adjustment between the two sexes. Though some reports stated differences in the way that boys and girls are brought up, and moderated relations between parenting practices and social adjustment (Denham et al, 2000) we didn´t find studies that incorporate both aspects. Therefore, the effect of parenting on gender differences that could lead to social rejection is an issue to be addressed.…”

Gene×Environment Interactions in Early Externalizing Behaviors: Parental Emotional Support and Socioeconomic Context as Moderators of Genetic Influences?

“…For example, McLoyd and Smith (2002) followed a group of 4-and 5-year-old children for 6 years and found that higher levels of parental emotional support were associated not only with lower levels of externalizing behaviors at any given time, but also with a slower rate of increase in externalizing behaviors. This protective effect of supportive parents on externalizing development is evident even after controlling for the initial rate of behavioral problems (Denham et al, 2000) and other biological and contextual variables (McCarty et al, 2005).…”

Intergenerational and Partner Influences on Fathers’ Negative Discipline

“…As consistency between parents in their parenting practices is usually recommended in parental advice books (e.g., Forgatch & Patterson, 2005), individual parents may feel some pressure to change their parenting practices to be more in line with those of their partner or at least to make some compromises. Numerous studies with diverse samples (e.g., adolescent parents, middle-class adult parents, clinic-referred parents) support the view that mothers' and fathers' observed and self-reported parenting styles, attitudes, and discipline strategies show similarities (Denham et al, 2000;Florsheim & Smith, 2005;Florsheim et al, 2003;Kerr, Lopez, Olson, & Sameroff, 2004;Mahoney, Donnelly, Lewis, & Maynard, 2000;Nobes & Smith, 1997;Simons et al, 1990;Smith & Farrington, 2004;Tamis-LeMonda, Shannon, Cabrera, & Lamb, 2004). Yet, none of these reviewed studies, nor any others of which we are aware, examined partner influences after accounting for parents' individual and family risk and also for partner selection effects.…”