Work

Association between maternal sensitivity and externalizing behavior from preschool to preadolescence

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Using data from the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N=1364), this study examined the association between mothers’ sensitivity and children’s externalizing behavior from preschool to preadolescence. Externalizing behavior declined on average across this period with a slowing of this decline around middle childhood. Maternal sensitivity remained relatively stable on average, and there was significant variation across mothers. A decrease in maternal sensitivity from ages 3 to 11 was related to an increase in externalizing behavior from ages 4 to 12. A model-based test of the direction of the effect suggested that the association between changes in maternal sensitivity and externalizing behavior from ages 4 to 11 was driven by child effects on mothers and not vice-versa. Between late preschool age and preadolescence, the behavior problems of children appear to strongly influence the sensitive support of mothers. Practical implications were discussed in light of these findings.

Source: NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

DOI: 10.17615/kxsr-g078

Authors: Cox, Martha J., Christ, Sharon L., Wang, Feihong, Garrett-Peters, Patricia, Mills-Koonce, W. Roger

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

OpenAlex ID: W4301025217