Child Problem Behavior Research Articles

The Impact of Maternal Childhood Trauma on Children's Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Maternal Depression and the Moderating Role of Mindful Parenting.

This study investigates the impact of maternal childhood trauma on children's problem behaviors, focusing on the mediating role of maternal depression and the moderating role of mindful parenting. The study used a convenience sampling method to survey 385 mother-child pairs from kindergartens in Jinan, China. Data were collected in two waves, and various validated questionnaires were used to assess maternal childhood trauma, depression, mindful parenting, and children's problem behaviors. Maternal childhood trauma positively predicted children's problem behaviors. Maternal depression was found to mediate this relationship. Mindful parenting moderated the effects of maternal childhood trauma and depression on children's problem behaviors, with high levels of mindful parenting mitigating these adverse effects. Maternal childhood trauma impacts children's problem behaviors both directly and indirectly through maternal depression. Mindful parenting serves as a protective factor, reducing the negative impact of maternal childhood trauma and depression on children's problem behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of interventions aimed at enhancing mindful parenting practices to improve child outcomes.

Mobile App-Assisted Parent Training Intervention for Behavioral Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), problem behaviors play a dysfunctional role, causing as much difficulty with daily living and adjustment as the core symptoms. If such behaviors are not effectively addressed, they can result in physical, economic, and psychological issues not only for the individual but also for family members. We aimed to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a mobile app-assisted parent training program for reducing problem behaviors in children with ASD. This open-label, single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted among parents of children with ASD aged 36-84 months. Participants were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by a blinded researcher. Randomization was performed using a stratified block randomization (with a block size of 4). Parents in the intervention group completed the mobile app-assisted parent training program at home over a 12-week period. They continued to receive their usual nondrug treatment in addition to the mobile app-assisted parent training program. The control group continued to receive their usual nonpharmaceutical treatment for 12 weeks without receiving the parent training program intervention. The primary outcome measure was the median change in the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) scores from before to after the intervention. Lower scores on the K-CBCL indicated a decrease in overall problem behavior. Between November 9, 2022, and December 8, 2022, 64 participants were enrolled. Overall, 42 children (intervention group median age: 49, IQR 41-52.5 months; control group median age: 49, IQR 42-58 months) of the participants joined the program. The intervention group included 20 (48%) participants and the control group included 22 (52%) participants. In the intervention group, the K-CBCL total scores showed a decrease after the intervention, with a median difference of -0.5 (95% CI -4.5 to 3). Pervasive developmental disorder scores also showed a decrease, with a median difference of -2.1 (95% CI -8.5 to 2.5). However, there was no significant difference in Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness scores after the intervention for both the control and intervention groups. Scores on the Korean version of the Social Communication Questionnaire showed a further decrease after the intervention in the intervention group (median difference -2, 95% CI -4 to 1). Caregivers' stress evaluated using the Korean Parenting Stress Index Fourth Edition-Short Form did not show any significant differences between the control and intervention groups. There were no adverse events related to study participation. The findings demonstrated the feasibility of using mobile devices for evidence-based parent training to reduce problem behaviors in children with ASD. Mobile devices' accessibility and flexibility may provide a viable alternative for offering early intervention for problem behaviors in children with ASD. CRIS KCT0007841; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?&seq=23112.

Relationships across the elementary years: Association with children's social-behavioral skills

Students' social-behavioral competencies are foundational to development. This longitudinal study identified associations between parent-teacher and student-teacher relationships, and children's social skills and problem behaviors at a single timepoint and over time. It involved 316 students and their parents and teachers across Grades 1 through 4. Several significant associations were uncovered, generally consistent with hypotheses. Parents' and teachers' reports of the parent-teacher relationship at one point in time were associated with their own ratings of students' social-behavioral outcomes. Across grades, parents' reports of the parent-teacher relationship were associated with their own ratings of students' outcomes. Teachers' reports of parent-teacher relationships were associated with children's overall social-behavioral outcomes as reported by parents and teachers. Teacher-rated student-teacher relationships at one timepoint were associated with their own ratings but not parents' ratings of student behaviors. Teacher-reported student-teacher relationships over time were associated with students' outcomes as rated by parents and teachers. Implications are discussed.

Parents' perception of children's behaviors, self-compassion, and parenting stress: Actor-partner interdependence model.

This study explores how self-compassion mediates the relations between parents' perceptions of children's behaviors and parenting stress, as well as interactions between parents. We conducted a longitudinal actor-partner interdependence mediation model and assessed parents' perceptions of children's behaviors, self-compassion, and parenting stress. A total of 656 pairs of parents (fathers' Mage = 34.96 years, SDage = 5.62; mothers' Mage = 33.13 years, SDage = 5.77) participated in the study. Results revealed that parents' perceptions of children's problem behavior affected their own parenting stress through their self-compassion. Additionally, parents' perceptions of children's prosocial behavior directly influenced their own parenting stress and also affected it through self-compassion in both parents. Parents' perceptions of children's problem behavior directly influenced their partner's parenting stress and also indirectly through their own self-compassion. Similarly, parents' perceptions of children's prosocial behavior affected their partner's parenting stress via self-compassion in both parents. The findings highlighted the importance of parents recognizing and valuing their children's positive behaviors, thereby fostering a constructive "child effect" that improved the dynamics of the parental subsystem. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Paternal Incarceration and Adolescent Delinquency: Role of Father Engagement and Early Child Behavior Problems.

Paternal incarceration is an important predictor of teen delinquency, but the factors that may explain this relationship-such as early child problem behaviors and level of father engagement-have not been adequately explored. The current longitudinal study examined paternal history of incarceration as a predictor of teen self-reported delinquency over a 15-year gap, considering early child problem behaviors and father engagement as mediators. Sex differences in these relationships were also evaluated. This four-wave longitudinal study included an analytic sample of 4897 teens who participated in the birth-cohort Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study. Mothers and fathers were interviewed shortly after the focal child's birth and were then reassessed in follow-up interviews at child ages 1, 3, 5, 9, and 15. The focal children were interviewed at ages 9 and 15. Results showed that paternal prior incarceration at year 1 was associated with greater child behavior problems and father engagement at year 5; however, those relationships disappeared by age 9. Paternal history of incarceration was not related to teen delinquency, but child behavior problems at age 9 were directly related to subsequent engagement in delinquent behaviors. Paternal current incarceration was related to subsequent father engagement but was not associated with later child behaviors. No significant indirect pathways emerged, indicating a lack of support for mediation. No sex differences in these relationships were observed. Overall, the findings underscore the complexity of the relationships between paternal incarceration, child behavior, and father engagement in the emergence of delinquent behaviors.

Co-parenting, parental competence and problem behaviours in children: examining differential parental roles

In recent years, the increase in child problem behaviours has become a significant public health concern. It is crucial to understand the complex dynamics between parental co-parenting, parenting competence, and child problem behaviours to develop effective interventions. This study explored the intricate relationship between parental co-parenting, parenting sense of competence, and child problem behaviours in a sample of 407 parent-child pairs from Shanghai, China. Findings indicated that neither maternal nor paternal perceived co-parenting significantly predicts child problem behaviours directly. However, maternal parenting sense of competence emerges as a significant mediator between maternal perceived co-parenting (both supportive and non-supportive) and child problem behaviours. This highlights the pivotal role of mothers as primary caregivers in shaping parenting dynamics and child outcomes. Conversely, paternal parenting sense of competence does not mediate the relationship between paternal perceived co-parenting and child behaviours, suggesting a nuanced dynamic within paternal care-giving roles. The study underscores theoretical contributions, validating the theory of inconsistent compensation effect and emphasizing the primary caregiver effect within the Chinese family context.

The Impact of Regular Physical Activity Participation on Physical Fitness and Problem Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Article Abstract is not available.

The Effect of Children’s Sleep Problems on Problem Behaviors: The Serial Mediating Effect of Executive Function and Emotion Regulation

Objectives: This study explains the process by which sleep problems affect problem behaviors in early elementary school children and explores the roles of executive function and emotion regulation, which are concepts related to cognitive or emotional regulation.Methods: This study’s participants consisted of 283 children in first to third grades of elementary school. Questionnaires asked mothers about their children’s sleep problems, executive function, emotion regulation, and problem behaviors. Model 6 of PROCESS macro version 3.4 was used to analyze the collected data.Results: First, children’s sleep problems had a directly positive effect on problem behaviors. Second, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on executive function, and executive function had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Third, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on emotion regulation, and emotion regulation had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Finally, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on executive function; executive function had a positive effect on emotion regulation; and emotion regulation had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Bootstrapping tests revealed that the mediating effect of executive function, the mediating effect of emotion regulation, and the serial mediating effect of executive function and emotion regulation were all significant in the relationship between children’s sleep problems and problem behaviors.Conclusion: This study expands on studies that revealed the mediating effect of executive function or emotion regulation in the relationship between sleep problems and problem behaviors. In other words, by confirming the serial mediating effect of executive function and emotion regulation, this study expands our understanding of the mechanisms by which children’s sleep problems affect problem behaviors.

A Systematic Review of Parental Self-Efficacy in Parents of Autistic Children.

Parental self-efficacy (PSE) assesses a parent's expectations and beliefs about their ability to effectively parent their child. PSE has implications for a parent's well-being, parenting practices, mental health, the parent-child relationship, and child adjustment. While PSE has been extensively examined within the broader parenting literature, the examination of PSE specifically for parents of autistic children has gained increasing attention in recent years. The following systematic review aimed to investigate the role of PSE for parents of autistic children by examining variables that predict PSE or are predicted by PSE in relation to how they align with the broader parenting literature and are unique to autism. Utilizing PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles were included if (a) participants included caregivers of autistic children, (b) at least one quantitative outcome measure of PSE was utilized, and (c) the role of PSE was examined as an outcome, predictor, or variable in an explanatory model. A total of 53 studies were included in the review and the role of PSE was examined regarding family (e.g., parental characteristics, parent stress, well-being, and support) and child factors (e.g., autism symptomology, problem behaviors, interventions). Several themes emerged including a positive relationship between PSE and support, and a negative relationship between PSE and parenting stress, parent mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression), and autism symptomology. Findings were compared to the broader parenting and PSE literature to examine how increased considerations and challenges (e.g., child problem behaviors, social impairment, and caregiver strain) associated with raising an autistic child might impact PSE.

The relationship between preschool children’s electronic product use and problem behaviours: a moderated mediation model

ABSTRACT Electronic product use among preschool children is gradually widespread. To explore whether and how electronic product use causes problem behaviours in preschool children, this study analyses the relationships between the degree of electronic product use, problem behaviours, and the roles of parenting styles and parent-child relationships in between using questionnaires to survey 582 parents of children aged 3-6-year-olds. Results (1) There are significant correlations between the four; (2) the Parent-child relationship mediated the relationship between electronic product use and problem behaviours; (3) Parenting style moderated both the relationship between electronic use and problem behaviours as well as parent-child relationship and problem behaviours. Conclusion: Excessive electronic product use can lead to parent-child conflicts and problem behaviours, while highly positive parenting styles can buffer these influences. This study provides further insights into the negative effects of excessive electronic product use and the protective role of parental guidance.

Psychometric Properties of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for Ages 6-18 to Identify Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in a Turkish Parent Sample.

The Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6-18 (CBCL/6-18) is broadly used for psycho-educational assessment in identifying children's behavior problems in special education and psychology. However, the usefulness of the CBCL/6-18 in a Turkish sample still needs to be investigated. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the measures of the CBCL/6-18 within a sample of Turkish parents. The psychometric evaluation includes item calibration using the Partial Credit Model (PCM). We analyzed data from 548 parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder. According to the PCM calibration, the results suggested that the Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problem subscales were unidimensional and showed local independence successfully. All subscales demonstrated adequate reliability, indicating that the scale distinguishes between children with different behavior problems. The subscales had varying item step ordering, meaning that transitions from one category to second by parent ratings are relatively straightforward. Some items with easy-to-define behavior problems, for example, Item 42 (constipated), were more likely to be endorsed by parents. Consequently, the CBCL/6-18 has adequate psychometric properties for accurately assessing problem behaviors in children based on parent ratings.

Family and Peer Social Capital and Child Behavioral Outcomes in Japan.

Child problem behaviors have been linked to immediate and long-term negative outcomes. Research has found that family and peer social capital have a strong influence on child behavioral outcomes. However, most research about social capital and child behavior problems has been conducted in Western contexts. Social capital may influence child behavior problems differently in non-Western sociocultural environments due to different family and peer dynamics. Using a sample from the Japan Household Panel Survey and Japan Child Panel Survey (N = 182), we expand this literature on various forms of social capital to the Japanese context with data that were collected between 2009 and 2014. We examine the relationship of family and peer social capital with children internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors using OLS linear regression. Our results differ from what is commonly found in Western contexts. Whereas family and peer social capital are typically associated with both internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in Western countries, we find that greater family social capital is associated with decreased externalizing problem behaviors but not internalizing problem behaviors in Japan, and peer social capital has no association on either type of problem behaviors. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering social and cultural contexts when exploring how social capital might encourage prosocial child outcomes.

The effects of illicit drug use during pregnancy and parental hostility on problem behaviors in school-aged children over and above genetic influences.

Previous work has examined the impact of prenatal illicit drug use (PDU) on children's problem behaviors. However, many PDU-related risk factors, including genetic and rearing environmental risks, can also influence offspring's problem behaviors, thus confounding PDU, genetic, and rearing environmental influences. This study aimed to (a) identify effects of PDU on school-aged children's problem behaviors, including both externalizing and internalizing behaviors at Age 7, after controlling genetic and specific rearing environmental (e.g., maternal and paternal hostility at Ages 4.5 and 6) influences and (b) examine interaction effects between PDU and maternal and paternal hostility in predicting children's problem behaviors at Age 7. We used a parent-offspring adoption design to partition genetic and prenatal effects from postnatal rearing environmental influences. Participants were 561 children adopted at birth (42% female; 56% White, 19% multiracial, 13% Black/African American, 11% Latine, and 1% other), their adoptive parents, and their birth parents. Results indicate that PDU did not show a direct impact on Age 7 problem behaviors before or after controlling genetic risks and adoptive mother's and father's hostility. However, we found significant interactions between adoptive father's hostility and PDU when predicting children's problem behaviors, such that higher paternal hostility was associated with higher externalizing and internalizing behaviors for children whose birth mothers were non-use or rare use of illicit drugs during pregnancy. The results suggest that different from non- or rare drug-exposed children, higher levels of PDU may override the effects of paternal hostility, but not maternal hostility, on problem behaviors at Age 7. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

인지능력, 창의성 및 자아존중감이 유아의 문제행동에 미치는 영향

This study studied the effects of children's creativity, cognitive ability, and self-esteem on children's problem behavior. The subjects of this study were 150 infants enrolled in kindergartens and daycare centers with an average age of 62.74 months. For data collection, 'Korean version of the child behavior checklist 1.5-5 (K-CBCL 1.5-5)', 'Korean version of the Kauffman Intelligence Test (K-ABC), 'Young children’s Self-esteem Scale', and 'Torrence Creativity Test' were used. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed. The results of this study are as follows. First, there was a negative correlation between children's problem behavior (internalization, externalization) and cognitive ability. Second, there was a negative correlation between the fluency of internalization problematicity creativity. Third, there was a negative correlation between children's problem behavior (internalization, externalization) and self-esteem. Fourth, children's creativity and self-esteem predicted internalization problem behavior as negative, and self-esteem predicted externalization problem behavior as negative.

영유아 문제행동지도를 위한 긍정적 행동지원 프로그램의 효과성 연구

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in teachers' instructional efficacy and perceptions of positive behavior support(PBS) by implementing a teacher education program based on PBS for teachers who experience difficulties in managing problem behaviors in early childhood education settings. The program was conducted with six preschool teachers in G Metropolitan City, and its effects were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results are as follows: First, there was a significant difference in teachers' instructional efficacy in managing problem behaviors before and after the program, with personal efficacy showing the most significant difference. Second, only rule selection and guidance factors showed significant differences in the implementation of PBS. Third, there was no significant change in perceptions of PBS. Fourth, the changes in teachers' experiences and perceptions after implementing PBS were examined through interviews, which confirmed that teachers' understanding of young children's problem behaviors and their perceptions of these behaviors had positively changed. This study suggests further research to verify the actual positive changes in children's behavior as it serves as an exploratory study into the prevention of problem behaviors and the promotion of creativity through positive behavior support.

부와 모 간의 양육태도, 훈육방식, 유아 문제행동 인식 차이 비교 연구

The purpose of this study is to provide understanding and information on the parenting of fathers and mothers according to changes in modern society by comparing and analyzing the differences in parenting attitudes, discipline methods, and recognition of children's problem behavior between fathers and mothers. The questionnaires of 167 pairs of 334 fathers and mothers were selected and analyzed as the final subject of this study. As a result of the study, the father had an affectionate and autonomous parenting attitude, and the mother had a controlling and rejecting parenting attitude. In terms of disciplinary methods, both parents often used logical explanation disciplinary methods. The permissive discipline method showed more wealth. Regarding the recognition of infant problem behavior, both parents recognized that hostile-aggressive behavior was the most problematic behavior, and hyperactivity-distracted behavior was perceived as more problematic by mothers than by fathers. The results of this study are expected to provide basic information about fathers and mothers' parenting in response to changes in modern society.

어머니의 자기효능감이 유아의 외현화 문제행동에 미치는 영향

Objectives In this study, we aimed to examine the moderated mediation and mediated moderation effects of maternal parenting stress and employment status on the relationship between maternal self-efficacy in raising young children and the children's external problem behaviors. Methods For this purpose, we analyzed the moderated mediation and mediated moderation effects using the Process Macro on a sample of 932 pairs of five-year-old children and their mothers, drawn from the fifth wave of the Korean Child Panel data collected in 2012. Results First, the moderated mediation effect of the mother's employment status was not observed. Second, the conditional indirect effects related to the mother's employment status were significant for both employed and unemployed mothers. Third, the mediated moderation effect related to the mother's employment status was not found. Conclusions The mother's employment status indirectly affected the maternal parenting stress mediating the relationship between the mother's self-esteem and the child's externalizing problem behaviors. This suggests that providing appropriate parenting support based on the mother's employment status could be valuable as foundational data.

Home‑rearing environment and preschoolers’ academic and behavioral competence: The indirect role of children’s screen time

The home-rearing environment (HRE) is significantly related to preschoolers’ academic and behavioral development. Children’s screen time has become an increasingly important aspect of the family environment in today’s digital age. However, few studies explored screen time’s indirect role in the relationships between HRE and children’s development. This study was conducted in three provinces of China, and 825 child-parent dyads participated. The results indicated that a high-quality HRE is directly associated with better language and cognitive skills, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and fewer problem behaviors in children. Screen time has an indirect role in this relationship, suggesting that a better HRE associated with lower screen time improves children’s outcomes. However, the HRE did not show a significant indirect role through screen time related to children’s problem behavior, indicating other factors may play a role. The study highlights the importance of fostering enriching home environments and managing screen time to support children’s development.

Food Insecurity and Children's Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Parental Relationship Quality and Parenting Stress.

Food insecurity, identified as a critical stressor for many families, can directly and indirectly influence children's development through interparental relationships and parenting. This study examines how food insecurity relates to children's problem behaviors and the mediating roles of interparental relationship quality and parenting stress. It also investigates the association between parents' perception of relationship quality and both their own and their partner's parenting stress. The study included 2095 children from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. The actor partner interdependence model was used to explore the actor and partner influence of relationship quality on parents' parenting stress. To examine the association pathways from food insecurity to children's problem behaviors, a structural equation model was conducted. Results suggest that fathers' perception of couple relationship quality predicted both their own and their partner's parenting stress while mothers' perception of couple relationship quality only predicted their own, but not fathers', parenting stress. In the positive association between food insecurity and children's problem behaviors, there was a serial mediation through mothers' perception of relationship quality and mothers' parenting stress. In addition, food insecurity was negatively correlated with mothers' perception of relationship quality, but not with that of fathers. This study highlights the pathway from food insecurity to children's problem behaviors through mothers' perceptions of interparental relationship quality and parenting stress. Results provide support for the family stress theory and offer valuable insights for the formulation of potential prevention and intervention programs.

The Effects of Exercise Intervention on Physical Fitness and Problem Behaviors in Children with Developmental Disabilities: Focused on the Development of Evidencebased Exercise Program

PURPOSE: Developmental disabilities often result in decreased physical fitness and problematic behaviors. Participating in regular physical activity and exercise is one of the main ways to improve problems associated with developmental disabilities. In this study, we aimed to develop an evidence-based exercise program tailored to the characteristics, disability level, and functional level of children with developmental disabilities.METHODS: The development process is composed of the following nine steps: preliminary literature review, survey of physical activity participation, first expert group discussion, development of the first exercise program, feasibility study, focus group interview, second expert group discussion, development of the evidence-based exercise program, the validation of the developed exercise program.RESULTS: Participating in the evidence-based exercise program developed in this study was found to significantly improve cardiovascular fitness (6-minute walk), agility (standing long jump), and muscular function (sit-ups), but did not yield significant results in terms of flexibility (sit-and-reach). Additionally, the exercise program showed significant results in terms of reducing problem behaviors. The parents of children with developmental disabilities were all satisfied with the exercise program and its outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: The evidence-based exercise program developed in this study had positive effects on the physical fitness and behavior of children with developmental disabilities. This study provides a basis for the development of exercise programs through a safe and effective means for children with developmental disabilities.