Transactional models linking maternal authoritative parenting, child self-esteem, and approach coping strategies

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the transactional pathways among maternal authoritative parenting, children's self-esteem, and approach coping strategies (i.e., problem solving coping and social support seeking coping). We collected three waves of data over three years from N = 888 Chinese children (50.3% girls; Mage = 9.83 years, SDage = 1.28 years at Time 1). Children reported their self-esteem, approach coping strategies, and mothers' authoritative behaviors. Results of the transactional model revealed that children's self-esteem at Time 1 predicted maternal authoritative parenting at Time 2, which in turn predicted children's use of approach coping strategies at Time 3. Furthermore, the results showed bidirectional associations between self-esteem and maternal authoritative parenting as well as between self-esteem and problem solving coping. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to understanding children's development of approach coping strategies and to designing interventions for enhancing use of approach coping strategies.