Longitudinal Effects of Parenting Behaviors on Early School-Age Children’s Problem Behaviors: Mediating Effect of Executive Function Difficulties

Abstract

Objectives This study examined the longitudinal effects of parenting behaviors and early school-age children’s executive function difficulties on problem behaviors. Methods The data for this longitudinal study were drawn from the eighth, ninth, and tenth waves of the Panel Study on Korean Children. A total of 1,228 children and their families participated. Fathers and mothers reported their parenting behaviors at Time 1 (first grade), mothers reported children’s executive function difficulties at Time 2 (second grade), and caregivers reported children’s problem behaviors at Time 3 (third grade). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results First, paternal and maternal warmth did not have a direct effect on children’s problem behaviors. Second, maternal warmth had an indirect effect on children’s problem behaviors through executive function difficulties. In other words, when mothers displayed less warmth, children have more problems with executive function, which, in turn, led to more problem behaviors. Conclusion This study confirmed that maternal warmth and children’s executive function are protective factors for early school-age children’s problem behaviors. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms linking parenting behaviors to later problem behaviors in children. Keywords: parenting behaviors, executive function difficulties, problem behaviors, early school-age children, Panel Study on Korean Children