Child Behavior Problems Research Articles

Dimensions of Parenting and Children's Conduct Problems: The Importance of Considering Children's Callous-Unemotional Traits.

Research has clearly indicated that the development of serious behavioral problems in children and adolescents is influenced by parenting. However, recent research has refined the role of parenting by showing the importance of distinguishing between different types of parenting and in considering the role of callous-unemotional traits (CU traits) and conduct problems (CP) of the children. In the current study, we advance this research by distinguishing between emotional (e.g., parental warmth; parental hostility) and behavioral (e.g., use of positive reinforcement; inconsistent discipline/harsh discipline) aspects of parenting and by considering the way parents respond to children's emotions (i.e., coaching and dismissing). The sample consisted of 136 mothers (M = 38.09 years, SD = 4.51 years, 45.41% high school degree) with a child (age range 3-5 years) enrolled in kindergarten in central Italy. Multiple regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for level of CP, use of positive reinforcement (β = -0.31, p < 0.001) and warm feelings (β = -0.22, p < 0.05), remained associated with CU traits and punitive parenting was no longer significant. Consistent with predictions, use of positive reinforcement was no longer associated with conduct problems when controlling for CU traits and the positive associations with punitive parenting (β = 0.24, p < 0.05) and negativity (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) remained significant. These findings support the need for continued research that considers both the emotional and behavioral aspects of parenting and disentangles their associations with conduct problems and CU traits. Such research could not only advance causal theories for children with conduct problems but also help to guide more effective treatments, especially for those with elevated CU traits who often leave treatment with significant conduct problems remaining.

A longitudinal study of child adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of the parent-child relationship in middle childhood

ABSTRACT This longitudinal study assessed how parent-child relationship quality during the first COVID-19 lockdown was related to changes in internalizing, externalizing, and sleep problems during the first months of the pandemic: during lockdown, partial deconfinement, and total deconfinement. Participants included 167 children (9–12 year) and their parents recruited in the province of Quebec, Canada. Child behavior problems decreased between lockdown and the two deconfinement assessments, but more sleep and behavior problems were associated with lower levels of relationship quality (more conflict, less closeness, and more insecure attachment). Significant interaction effects showed that changes in externalizing and sleep problems varied as a function of parent-child relationship. Results support the critical importance of the parent-child relationship with regard to child adjustment in middle childhood in times of crisis such as a pandemic. They also highlight resilience in children aged 9 to 12, with a decrease in problems over time.

Depression and parental distress among caregivers of autistic children: a serial mediator analysis in caregivers of autistic children

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of autism, emotional and behavioral problems of autistic children, internalized stigma, depressive symptoms, and primary caregiver parental stress. Specifically, we explored the mediating role of internal stigmatization and total difficulties of individuals with autism on parenting stress and depressive symptoms of the primary caregiver.MethodMothers of 93 children with autism were included in the study. The mothers were given the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), the Autism Behavior Checklist, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, Strength, and Difficulties Questionnaire -Parent Form (SDQ-P).ResultsAs a result of our study, the emotional and behavioral problems of the child and the internalized stigmatization felt by the parent played a mediator role in the relationship between the child’s autism severity and the parent’s stress and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsOur findings highlight that internalized stigmatization and behavioral characteristics of individuals with autism are among the most critical problems for their primary caregivers. These results have important implications for the development of interventions aimed at reducing the internalized stigma experienced by primary caregivers of individuals with autism and for improving their mental health outcomes.

Improving data quality in online parenting research

AbstractOnline surveys provide many benefits for researchers but are vulnerable to fraudulent responders that threaten data quality. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of current detection strategies after noting patterns in our data. We systematically reviewed responses (N = 180) from parenting studies utilizing two online platforms. Respondents were categorized as accepted (n = 45) or fraudulent (n = 135), and responses on standardized measures were examined to determine if fraudulent scores differed. Accepted participants were predominately female (98.4%) and White (67.9%). Average caregiver age was 40.61 (SD = 7.37) on Qualtrics and 59.88 (SD = 6.01) on REDCap. The majority of fraudulent responders reported being female (62.1%) and White (80.6%), with average caregiver ages of 37.83 (SD = 7.35) for Qualtrics and 56.16 (SD = 8.86) for REDCap. Fraudulent responders had significantly higher median scores on measures of caregiver distress (rDASS = 0.21) and child behavioural problems (rCBCL = 0.33). Previously recommended strategies were insufficient at preventing and identifying fraudulent responders. Recommendations for improving these strategies are discussed.Highlights The current paper includes experiences using multiple strategies to detect fraudulent responders in two online parenting studies. Improvements to previously recommended strategies and an example review form are included to aid researchers in detecting fraudulent responders.

Maternal Perceptions and Responsiveness to Cry in Armed Conflict Zones: Links to Child Behavior Problems

Crying is a typical infant behavior that activates parental caregiving behaviors, acting as “human alarms” important for the infant’s survival. When living under war-related threat, the auditory system may be sensitized given its importance for survival, potentially impacting maternal cry processing. Children living in armed-conflict zones are at increased risk for behavior problems, which may relate to both direct exposure and indirect effects through their parents’ perceptions and behaviors. This hypothesis was examined in a sample of mothers and their first-born children (aged 10–45 months) living in the Gaza vicinity area in Israel, chronically exposed to missile alarms (high-exposure; n = 45), and a comparison group (low-exposure; n = 86). Group differences in child behavior problems and maternal perceptions of and responsiveness to cry were investigated. A moderated indirect-effect of maternal cry perceptions on child behavior problems via maternal responsiveness to cry was examined. In the high-exposure group, children had more externalizing problems and mothers rated cries as more aversive. Maternal cry perception was indirectly related to child behavior problems via responsiveness to cry only in the high-exposure group: higher perceptions of cry as aversive or the child as distressed were related to faster responding to crying, and faster cry responsiveness was linked with fewer behavior problems. Results suggest that in armed-conflict zones with auditory warning signals, the parental caring system may be easily activated by cries due to the strong association between alarms and threat. Furthermore, children may need their mothers to react faster when feeling distressed, possibly because of the surrounding threat.

Child Behavior Problems and Maltreatment Exposure.

Establish the longitudinal cross-lagged associations between maltreatment exposure and child behavior problems to promote screening and the type and timing of interventions needed. The Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, a multiwave prospective cohort study of maltreatment exposure, enrolled children and caregivers (N = 1354) at approximately age 4 and followed them throughout childhood and adolescence. Families completed 7 waves of data collection with each wave occurring 2 years apart. Maltreatment was confirmed using official case records obtained from Child Protective Services. Six-month frequencies of behavior problems were assessed via caregiver-report. Two random-intercept, cross-lagged panel models tested the directional relations between maltreatment exposure and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Maltreatment exposure predicted increases in externalizing behaviors at ages 8 (b = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14-1.98), 12 (b = 1.09; 95% CI 0.08-2.09), and 16 (b = 1.67; 95% CI 0.30-3.05) as well as internalizing behaviors at ages 6 (b = 0.66; 95% CI 0.03-1.29), 12 (b = 1.25; 95% CI 0.33-2.17), and 14 (b = 1.92; 95% CI 0.76-2.91). Increases in externalizing behaviors predicted maltreatment exposure at age 12 (odds ratio 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.05). Maltreatment exposure is robustly associated with subsequent child behavior problems, strengthening inferences about the directionality of these relations. Early screening of externalizing behaviors in pediatric settings can identify children likely to benefit from intervention to reduce such behaviors as well as prevent maltreatment exposure at entry to adolescence.

Advances, Challenges and Opportunities: The Treatment and Prevention of Anxiety and Behavioural Problems in Children and Young People : A Special Issue Dedicated to Professor Ron Prinz and Professor Thomas Ollendick.

Advances, Challenges and Opportunities: The Treatment and Prevention of Anxiety and Behavioural Problems in Children and Young People : A Special Issue Dedicated to Professor Ron Prinz and Professor Thomas Ollendick.

CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS PREVENTING POST-CORONA DELINQUENCY, RESULTS OF A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background: A novel Crisis Intervention Program for Children and Adolescents (CIPCA) has shown a positive effect in preventing posttraumatic psychopathology among IDP children. In this study, the effect of CIPCA is examined in a randomised controlled trial. Methods: During the Corona crisis in the city of Duhok in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, 97 of the enrolled 106 children between 6 - 18 years age accepted to participate in this study (response rate 91.5%). In the presence of a parent/caregiver, every participating child was interviewed within the first month after discharge from hospital or quarantine for Corona crisis. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was conducted to estimate child behavior problem scores before randomisation to a single one-hour CIPCA intervention or a waiting list. The CBCL interview was repeated 6 months later to estimate changes over time. Results: Delinquency behavior showed a significant difference between CIPCA and the waiting list over time, indicating a positive effect of CIPCA. Conclusions: CIPCA is effective in identifying and preventing post-Corona juvenile delinquency problems. Follow-up is planned to detect any psychopathological development.

Reducing behavior problems in children born after an unintended pregnancy: the generation R study

ObjectivesTo examine differences in behavior problems between children from intended versus unintended pregnancies, and to estimate how much the difference in problem behavior would be reduced if postnatal depression was eliminated and social support was increased within 6 months after birth.MethodsData from the Generation R Study were used, a population-based birth cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (N = 9621). Differences in child internalizing and externalizing behavior at ages 1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 13 years between pregnancy intention groups were estimated using linear regression. Associations of postnatal depression and social support with internalizing and externalizing problems were also estimated using linear regression. Child behavior outcomes where compared before and after modelling a situation in which none of the mothers experienced a postnatal depression and all mother experienced high social support.ResultsMost pregnancies (72.9%) were planned, 14.8% were unplanned and wanted, 10.8% were unplanned with initially ambivalent feelings and 1.5% with prolonged ambivalent feelings. Children from unplanned pregnancies had more internalizing and externalizing problems at all ages as compared to children from a planned pregnancy, especially when ambivalent feelings were present. Hypothetically eliminating on postnatal depression reduced the differences in internalizing and externalizing problems by 0.02 to 0.16 standard deviation. Hypothetically increasing social support did not significantly reduce the difference in internalizing and externalizing problems.ConclusionsChildren from an unplanned pregnancy have more behavior problems, in particular when mothers had prolonged ambivalent feelings. Eliminating postnatal depression may help to reduce the inequality in child behavior related to pregnancy intention.

Do multigenerational homes moderate the intergenerational transmission of maternal adverse childhood experiences?

ABSTRACT Background: Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may lead to increased behavioural problems in children. However, the mediating roles of psychological distress and corporal punishment, two common mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of maternal ACEs, in these relations have not been examined in Chinese samples. Multigenerational homes (MGH) are the dominate living arrangement in China; however, limited research focuses on the effects of MGHs on the intergenerational transmission of maternal ACEs. Objective: This study explored the parallel mediating effects of corporal punishment and psychological distress on the association between maternal ACEs and children’s behaviour and whether MGHs can strengthen or weaken the relationship between maternal ACEs and corporal punishment or psychological distress. Participants and setting: Participants were 643 three-year-old children and their mothers (mean age of 32.85 years, SD = 3.79) from Wuhu, China. Methods: Mothers completed online questionnaires measuring ACEs, psychological distress, corporal punishment, their family structure, and children’s behavioural problems. This study used a moderated mediation model. Results: The findings suggest that psychological distress and corporal punishment mediate the association between maternal ACEs and children’s behavioural problems. The mediating role of corporal punishment was found depend on whether mothers and their children reside in MGHs. MGHs were not found to have a moderating role in the indirect relationship between maternal ACEs and children’s behaviour problems via psychological distress. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological distress and corporal punishment when designing interventions targeted Chinese mothers exposed to ACEs and their children, especially those living in MGHs.

Association of Prenatal Dietary Toxicants and Inorganic Arsenic Exposure with Children's Emotional and Behavioral Problems: ECLIPSES Study.

Prenatal exposure to dietary toxicants is linked to neurocognitive issues, but its effect on early emotional and behavioral development in children is less clear. To explore the relationship between prenatal intake of As, iAs, Cd, MeHg, Pb, PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and NDL-PCBs and emotional and behavioral issues in four-year-old children. This study included 192 mother-child pairs from the ECLIPSES study, assessing prenatal dietary toxicant exposure through a food-frequency questionnaire and Catalan Food Safety Agency data. Children's emotional and behavioral scores were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 years. Multivariable regression and logistic models were used, focusing on iAs after finding significant preliminary associations. Increased prenatal dietary intake of iAs was associated with internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems. Higher iAs levels (>4.16 μg/day) significantly increased the risk of total problems (OR = 2.94) and specific issues like anxious/depressed (OR = 4.88), anxiety (OR = 3.27), and oppositional defiant problems (OR = 4.30). High iAs consumption correlated with the intake of meat, eggs, cereals, tubers, fruits, and pulses Prenatal dietary iAs exposure is associated with various emotional and behavioral problems in children. Monitoring and reducing iAs levels in food are crucial for public health.

Effectiveness of Learning through Play Plus (LTP Plus) Parenting Intervention on Behaviours of Young Children of Depressed Mothers: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Evidence has shown that parenting intervention programmes improve parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices, which helps in promoting child development. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of parenting intervention in improving child behaviours. This is a secondary analysis of data from a cluster-randomised controlled trial with depressed mothers aged 18-44 years with a child aged 0 to 36 months. This paper reports findings from the dataset of participants with a child aged between 24 and 36 months. Villages (n = 120) were randomised into either of two arms: learning through play plus (LTP Plus) or treatment as usual (TAU). LTP Plus is a 10-session, group parenting intervention integrated with cognitive behaviour therapy, delivered over 3 months. This secondary analysis reports findings on the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI) and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). Findings show a significant improvement in child behaviour (ECBI) scores (p < 0.011) and HOME scores (p < 0.001) in the intervention group compared to TAU at 3-month follow-up. In a low-resource setting, low-cost group parenting intervention delivered by community health workers has the potential to improve child behaviours and quality of the home environment. Parenting interventions aimed at improving child behavioural problems can have significant implications for the child, family, and broader societal outcomes. Addressing behavioural problems in early years, parenting interventions can potentially reduce long-term consequences and costs associated with untreated child behavioural issues.

The network structures of mental and behavioral problems among children and adolescents in China using propensity score matching: A comparison between one-child and multi-child families based on a nationwide survey

BackgroundExploring networks of mental and behavioral problems in children and adolescents may identify differences between one-child and multi-child families. This study compared the network structures of mental and behavioral problems in children and adolescents in one-child families versus multi-child families based on a nationwide survey. MethodsPropensity score matching (PSM) was used to match children and adolescents from one-child families with those from multi-child families. Mental and behavioral problems were assessed using the Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) with eight syndromal subscales. In the network analysis, strength centrality index was used to estimate central symptoms, and case-dropping bootstrap method was used to assess network stability. ResultsThe study included 39,648 children and adolescents (19,824 from one-child families and 19,824 from multi-child families). Children and adolescents from multi-child families exhibited different network structure and higher global strength compared to those from one-child families. In one-child families, the most central symptoms were “Social problems”, “Anxious/depressed” and “Withdrawn/depressed”, while in multi-child families, the most central symptoms were “Social problems”, “Rule-breaking behavior” and “Anxious/depressed”. ConclusionDifferences in mental and behavioral problems among children and adolescents between one-child and multi-child families were found. To address these problems, interventions targeting “Social problems” and “Anxious/depressed” symptoms should be developed for children and adolescents in both one-child and multi-child families, while other interventions targeting “Withdrawn/depressed” and “Rule-breaking behavior” symptoms could be useful for those in one-child and multi-child families, respectively.

Routines and warmth as protective factors on the relation between housing instability and child outcomes.

Housing instability is associated with numerous poor child outcomes in domains such as behavioral and emotional problems. The impacts of housing instability on child outcomes are typically investigated in the context of sociodemographic risk; however, exploring the role of protective factors (e.g., family routines, parental warmth) in these contexts allows for a more thorough understanding of the effect of housing instability and how potential negative outcomes might be mitigated. The present study further explored the relation between early housing instability and child behavioral and emotional outcomes in middle childhood in addition to the potential moderating role of family routines and parental warmth in early childhood. Longitudinal data of 4,898 families from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study were used to explore these associations. Using structural equation modeling, the present analyses indicated that when controlling for key sociodemographic covariates, housing instability in early childhood was not related to child outcomes at age 9. Greater parental warmth at age 5 was significantly associated with lower levels of behavioral and emotional problems at age 9. Categorical models using the product indicator approach indicated that greater parental warmth attenuates the relation between moving one to two times and later child behavioral problems. Parental warmth emerged as a significant promotive factor for later child emotional problems. Further implications are discussed below. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Disruptive child behavior severity and parenting program session attendance: Individual participant data meta-analysis.

We tested if baseline disruptive child behavior problem severity predicts parental attendance at sessions of a parenting group program. We used a database of randomized trials of the Incredible Years parenting program in Europe and restricted the sample to participants randomized to the intervention arm. Using baseline Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory scores, we distinguished between trial-level problem severity and child-level problem severity, compared linear and quadratic functional forms at both levels, and considered cross-level interactions, all in a multilevel Poisson regression framework. Drawing on 918 participants in 12 trials, we found that within trials, parents of children with the least and most severe problems attended fewer sessions. Between trials, each additional 10-point increase in the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory trial mean predicted an 11% increase in attendance. Models including child sex, age, or family low-income did not change coefficients or their interpretation. Our findings suggest that although generally attendance is higher in parents of children with more challenging behavior, it seems difficult for group programs to keep families with the least or most severe problems engaged. Our findings call for the need to better understand the conditions under which lower attendance translates into equivalent or lesser program benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Parenting experiences and outcomes among former adolescent mothers: A mixed methods study.

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine parenting outcomes and experiences over time among marginalized adolescent mothers enrolled in randomized clinical trials (RCT) between 2002 and 2016 testing Minding the Baby® (MTB), an early home visiting program. The quantitative phase examined associations between measures of maternal experiences and parenting outcomes from 71 participants 2-8 years since RCT completion. MTB mothers reported less hostile parenting and fewer child behavior problems. The sequential qualitative phase involved interviews with a subsample (n = 31) and revealed six themes about their personal and parenting maturation. Through integration of quantitative and qualitative data, we generated metainferences, revealing a nuanced understanding of participants' experiences. Integrated findings revealed the complex personal and parenting experiences among former adolescent mothers during their developmental phases of emerging and early adulthood. Findings inform clinical and research approaches to promote personal growth and positive parenting outcomes over time among women who began childbearing in adolescence.

Need Assessment for the Development of A Training Model for Coping Learning in Kindergarten

Coping learning is critical for fostering children's ability to cope with their problems. This study explored the issues and requirements for creating a training model for coping learning in kindergartens in Yogyakarta. Following Borg and Gall's exploration stage of the research and development approach, this research analyzed four (4) principals' and five (5) educators' input. During the exploration stage, data on coping learning was collected through observations and interviews. Interactive analysis was employed as the data analysis technique. The findings revealed some issues, specifically: 1) educators lack the necessary knowledge and skills to implement coping learning effectively, 2) the lack of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for coping learning resulted in a haphazard approach to its implementation, 3) educators have limited knowledge and ability to manage children's emotional and behavioral problems, 4) insufficient coping-based learning resources, and 5) certain parenting practices prevent children from developing coping skills. The needs assessment results will then be used to create a training model, which will then be submitted for expert judgment and field testing to determine its effectiveness.

Examining Childhood Behavior Problems as Predictors of Alcohol Dependency in Emerging Adulthood: A Latent Class Analysis Approach

There is limited research on within-person clustering of early-life behavioral issues and risk for alcohol use issues. This study examined the relevance of childhood behavior problem clusters for predicting alcohol problems in emerging adulthood. This study examined full behavioral profiles as predictors of alcohol-related problems, rather than individual behaviors. The Pathways to Desistance dataset comprised of 1354 justice-involved youth followed across seven years post-adjudication collected from Maricopa County, Arizona and Philadelphia Pennsylvania were analyzed. Latent class analysis was used to identify clusters of childhood behavioral problems (cheating, disturbing class, getting drunk/stoned, stealing, fighting). Regression modeling was used to examine various alcohol use outcomes. Findings indicated that a three-class model best fit the data (Low; FDC; High). Assignment to the High class predicted greater social consequences of alcohol use, but this effect was only marginally significant. No significant effects were observed for either alcohol dependence measure.

Racial/Ethnic differences in the association between parental wealth and child behavior problems

The associations between wealth and child development outcomes have been well documented. However, little research has investigated how these associations vary by race/ethnicity. This study examines the association between parental wealth and child internalizing/externalizing behavior problems across race/ethnicity using longitudinal data. Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and its Child and Young Adults Supplement. Three racial/ethnic groups were examined: Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic. The primary outcome was the child behavior problem index (BPI). We constructed a median-dichotomized standardized BPI measure in addition to using the antisocial subscale and depression/anxiety subscale. Parental wealth, defined as net worth, was calculated as assets minus debt. Three-level logistic regression was used. We first conducted the analyses using the whole sample, then followed with subgroup analyses stratified by race/ethnicity. Wealth was negatively associated with all the BPI indicators in the whole sample analysis. For Non-Hispanic White children, wealth had an incremental, consistent association with child behavior problems. Wealth was only protective against internalizing and externalizing behavior problem indicators among Black children from families in the higher levels of wealth. There were no significant associations between parental wealth and child behavior problems for Hispanic children. This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between parental wealth and child behavior problems. Findings indicate that whereas wealth is associated with lower levels of child behavior problems, there are racial/ethnic differences in the association. Implications for asset-building policy and programming are discussed.

Parenting Stress in Autistic and ADHD Children: Implications of Social Support and Child Characteristics.

High levels of parenting stress have been detected in mothers of children with Autism (ASD) and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comparing with mothers of typically developing (TD) children. The current study explored the implications of social support (confidant and affective support) and child characteristics (emotional, behavioral and sleep problems) on parenting stress in ASD and ADHD. Furthermore, the differences between mothers of children with autism, ADHD and TD on the studied variables were examined.A total of 120 mothers of 30 TD children, 47 with ASD without intellectual disability and 43 with ADHD collaborated in the study. Significant differences were found between clinical and TD groups in parenting stress, social support, and child characteristics.Correlation analysis in the group with ADHD revealed that parental stress correlated significantly with social support and with children's emotional problems. In the ASD group, parental stress also correlated significantly with children's sleep and behavioral problems. Moreover, multiple regressions showed that confidant support was a significant predictor of parenting stress in both clinical groups.The findings provide new insights to consider social support as a fundamental part of treatments for parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD and ADHD.