The impact of maternal personality traits on behavioral problems in preschool-aged children: a population-based panel study in South Korea.

Abstract

The impact of maternal personality traits on offspring behavioral problems has not been well established. In our study, the association between maternal personality traits and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children was investigated. A total of 192 preschoolers with their mothers, who were part of a population-based panel study in South Korea, were included in the present study. Maternal personality traits were assessed by the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) when the children were 1year old. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 1.5-5 was used to identify behavioral problems in the children at 4 and 5years of age. Maternal personality (borderline, somatization) positively correlated with behavioral problems (externalizing, internalizing, and dysregulation) in children. Maternal paranoid personality trait correlated with children's internalizing and dysregulation behavioral problems. Multiple linear regressions showed that maternal borderline trait significantly predicted children's externalizing (B = 0.302, P = 0.001), internalizing (B = 0.211, P = 0.020), and dysregulation problems (B = 0.327, P < 0.001). Similarly, maternal somatization trait predicted children's internalizing problems (B = 0.291, P < 0.001). Maternal borderline and somatization traits showed association with children's behavioral problems. Psychological intervention and support for mothers with these personality traits may be helpful in raising children with behavioral problems.