Mother-Child Interactions and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Preschoolers over Time: Inhibitory Control as a Mediator

Rianne Van Dijk,Mariëlle Zondervan-Zwijnenburg,Kimberly A Espy,Kim Schoemaker,Maja Deković,Walter Matthys,Tessa L Bunte

doi:10.1007/s10802-016-0258-1

Abstract

Previous research has shown links between parenting and externalizing behavior problems in young children over time. Associations between inhibitory control, one of the executive functions, and externalizing behavior problems are widely established as well. Yet, the role of inhibitory control in the maintenance and change of externalizing behavior problems over time remains unclear. We examined whether inhibitory control could explain the link between mother-child interactions measured on a moment-to-moment timescale and preschoolers’ externalizing behavior problems as reported by teachers. With a sample of 173 predominantly clinically referred preschoolers (76.9% boys) we tested a longitudinal model proposing that affective dyadic flexibility and maternal negative affect predict as well as interact in predicting hyperactive/impulsive behavior and aggressive behavior, with preschoolers’ inhibitory control as a mediator. Our results provide support for this model for preschoolers’ hyperactive/impulsive behavior, but not for aggressive behavior. Hence, inhibitory control is identified as a mechanism linking the content and structure of mother-child interactions to preschoolers’ hyperactivity and impulsivity over time.

Highlights

Previous research has shown links between parenting and externalizing behavior problems in young children over time
There were small and positive relations between flexibility measures and externalizing problems at T1 and T3, indicating that higher levels of maternal negative affect and higher levels of affective dyadic flexibility at T1 relate to higher levels of both types of externalizing problems measured at T1 and T3
Noteworthy were the strong, positive associations between maternal negative affect and affective dyadic flexibility measured at T1

Summary

Introduction

Previous research has shown links between parenting and externalizing behavior problems in young children over time. Inhibitory control is identified as a mechanism linking the content and structure of mother-child interactions to preschoolers’ hyperactivity and impulsivity over time. Improvements in inhibitory control over time are more distinct in clinically diagnosed preschoolers with ODD/CD or ADHD compared to typically developing children, as they seem to catch up a part of their delay (Schoemaker et al 2014). It is unclear, whether these improvements in inhibitory control are related to a decrease in externalizing behaviors. Inhibitory control might be key to better understanding this relation

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