Parental differential treatment, child’s externalizing behavior and sibling relationships: Bridging links with child’s perception of favoritism and personality, and parents’ self-efficacy

Abstract

This study examined the associations between parental differential treatment (PDT), children’s externalizing behavior (EB) and sibling relationships, as well as the intervening effects of children’s perception of favoritism, personality, and parents’ self-efficacy (SE) within these associations. A total of 117 families were studied, all of whom had a child clinically referred for EB problems. First, the role of PDT and perceived favoritism on EB and sibling relationships was examined. The contributions of PDT and child personality in explaining perception of favoritism were also explored. PDT was moderately related to both EB and sibling affection. Perception of favoritism was predicted by both PDT and personality, but was only predictive of sibling hostility. Second, EB effects on PDT were examined and the mediating role of parents’ SE within this relation was explored. As expected, EB predicted higher level PDT in parents and the link between PDT and EB was mediated by parental SE.