Child Problem Behavior Research Articles

Profiles of family engagement in home- and center-based Early Head Start programs: Associations with child outcomes and parenting skills

Using the Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences Study (Baby FACES; Vogel & Boller, 2009-2012), the present study employed a person-centered approach to identify profiles of family engagement in home- and center-based Early Head Start (EHS) programs. We identified three profiles with different patterns across two structural dimensions (home involvement and program involvement) and one relational dimension (parent-staff relationships) of family engagement in both program types. We then examined associations of these profiles with child and parenting outcomes at age 3 and the outcome change scores from age 2 to 3. For home-based programs, children in profiles 2 and 3 indicating high home involvement showed significantly higher engagement/orientation skills than children in profile 1 indicating low home involvement and low parent-staff relationships. For center-based programs, a high home and low program involvement (profile 2) and a high involvement (profile 3) showed better child and parenting outcomes in the areas of child receptive vocabulary, parental sensitivity, stimulation of cognitive development, and intrusiveness as well as greater increases in parental cognitive stimulation than families in a low home and high program involvement (profile 1). Profiles 1 and 3 showed fewer child problem behaviors and greater increases in child engagement/orientation than profile 2, while profile 3 showed higher social competence than profile 2. In addition, profile 1 showed greater increases in child emotional regulation than profiles 2 and 3. This study contributes to advancing our understanding of the role of different dimensions and patterns of family engagement in home- and center-based EHS programs.

유아의 문제행동이 발생하는데 영향을 미치는 요인 검증:비연속시간 사건사 분석

유아의 문제행동이 발생하는데 영향을 미치는 요인 검증:비연속시간 사건사 분석

Examining the Links Between Received Network Support and Marital Quality Among Mothers of Children with ASD: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis.

Employing a cohort sequential design and multilevel modeling, the direct and indirect effects (via depressed mood, emotional wellbeing, and perceived support) of received network support on marital quality were assessed over a 7-year period (child age 7-14) on 96 married or cohabiting mothers of children with ASD. Findings indicated several significant direct and indirect effects affecting change within mothers over time, with effects varying by whether the support source was a spouse or partner, family members, or friends. In addition, one moderated mediation effect was noted, with the indirect effect of received spousal support on marital quality via perceived spousal support retaining significance only at low and moderate levels of child problem behavior severity. Study strengths, limitations, and clinical implications are discussed.

Preparing for Parenthood; Parenting Training Module on six Child Development Aspect in East Jakarta


 The age period of 0-8 years is the most important moment for every human being to develop all the developmental features supported by parents at home and teachers / tutors at the Early Childhood Education Institute (ECE). In parenting, six main aspects must be known and applied by each parent. Lack of education, nutritional knowledge, care and care, and aspects of clean-living habits in the family can have an impact on children's growth and development processes. This study aims to develop a module 6 aspects of child development for parental guidance. This study uses a research and development approach to test the effectiveness of the posttest design. Respondents in this study are parents who have children up to 5 years and early childhood educators. The findings show that from these six main aspects, it seems that parents and ECE tutors do not yet understand the ECE concept. In another perspective, there is still a lack of knowledge about these 6 main aspects which require training and parenting modules to develop the 6 aspects of child development.
 Keywords: Early Childhood Education, Child Development Aspect, Parenting Training Module

심각한 문제행동이 있는 발달장애자녀를 둔 어머니의 불안감을 야기하는 원인에 대한 원인연쇄분석(CCA)*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes about mothers’ anxiety who have children with developmental disabilities with serious problem behaviors. For this study, the cause of mothers’ anxiety related to problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities were analyzed using Causal Chain Analysis(CCA). Participants in this study were three mothers of children with developmental disabilities who attended a special school in C region. The semantic data was extracted from the data transfered through interview and interpreted by Causal Chain Analysis. The results of this study are as follows: First, the immediate causes of mothers’ anxiety were ‘the children’s learning opportunities loss due to problem behaviors’, ‘lack of skill in responding to problem behaviors’, ‘dependence on medical services’, and ‘physical and mental difficulties’; Second, the intermediate causes of mothers’ anxiety were ‘social isolation’ and ‘confusion over the cause of problem behavior’ and; Third, the root causes of mothers’ anxiety were ‘the absence of a school system to solve problem behaviors’. Finally, the results of this study were discussed and the implications, limitations, and follow-up studies were suggested.

Associations of exposure to green space with problem behaviours in preschool-aged children.

Limited evidence is available regarding the association of green-space exposure with childhood behavioural development. This study aimed to investigate the associations of exposure to green space with multiple syndromes of behavioural development in preschool children. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuhan, China from April 2016 to June 2018. We recruited a sample of 6039 children aged 5-6 years from 17 kindergartens located in five urban districts of the city. We measured the greenness using average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a circular buffer area of 100 metres surrounding the central point of residences and kindergartens. We calculated the residence-kindergarten-weighted greenness by assuming that children spent 16 hours per day at home and 8 hours at kindergarten. The problem behaviours of children were evaluated at kindergarten using the Childhood Behavioral Checklist (CBCL) and standardized into problem behavioural T scores. Linear mixed-effect models and linear-regression models were used to estimate the associations. We observed decreases in problem behaviours associated with kindergarten and residence-kindergarten-weighted surrounding greenness in preschool children. For example, a one-interquartile range increase in kindergarten and residence-kindergarten-weighted NDVI was associated with decreased T scores for total behaviour by -0.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): -1.09, -0.13) and -0.49 (95% CI -0.85, -0.12), anxiety and depression by -0.65 (95% CI: -1.13, -0.17) and -0.46 (95% CI: -0.82, -0.10), aggressive behaviour by -0.53 (95% CI: -1.01, -0.05) and -0.38 (95% CI: -0.75, -0.02) and hyperactivity and attention deficit by -0.54 (95% CI: -1.01, -0.07) and -0.48 (95% CI: -0.83, -0.12), respectively. Stratified analyses indicated that the associations of green-space exposure with problem behaviours were stronger in boys than in girls. Children attending kindergartens with higher levels of surrounding green space exhibited better behavioural development. The mechanisms underlying these associations should be explored further.

Effects of Topper Training on psychosocial problems, self-esteem, and peer victimisation in Dutch children: A randomised trial.

Most interventions aimed at improving social interactions either target internalising or externalising problem behaviour in children. However, a recent review shows that a transdiagnostic approach might fit better to the diversity of problems within a group and within an individual (comorbidity). We examined the effectiveness of a transdiagnostic intervention, called Topper Training: a cognitive behavioural intervention in the peer group with parents included, that targets both internalising and externalising behaviour problems. A randomised trial with a waiting list control group was conducted, using 132 children with mild to severe psychosocial problems. Children were randomised into 77 intervention and 55 waiting list children (50% boys; age = 8–11 years). GLM repeated measures analyses yielded significant intervention effects directly after the training on parent-reported (but not teacher-reported) emotional symptoms (Cohen’s d = .70), peer relationship problems (d = .41), and impact of these problems (d = .59). Significant effects were also found for child-perceived peer victimisation (d = .62), self-esteem (d = .45) and teacher-reported conduct problems (d = .42). Parent-reported effects on emotional, conduct problems and impact of the problems and child-reported effects on self-esteem were clinically relevant. No significant effects of Topper Training were found for prosocial behaviour and bullying. Within-participant t-tests in the intervention group between post-intervention and follow-up indicated that effects extended over a six-month follow-up period. Depression decreased significantly from post-test to follow-up. In conclusion, children with mild to severe internalising and/or externalising problems can benefit from the transdiagnostic Topper Training intervention.

Classroom Strategies Designed to Reduce Child Problem Behavior and Increase Peer Inclusiveness: Does Teacher Use Predict Students’ Sociometric Ratings?

Establishing a positive peer climate in the elementary school classroom is an important goal for educators. This pilot study examined if children’s liking and disliking of their classroom peers are predicted by teachers’ use of practices designed to address child disruptive behaviors that are off-putting to peers, and practices designed to enhance peer inclusivity. Whereas teacher practices to foster good peer relationships are useful for all students, they are particularly important for those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, as these children are often poorly regarded by classmates. Thus, we explored the moderating effect of child ADHD symptom status. Participants were 194 children (grades K-4) in the classrooms of 12 teachers. The teachers were helping our study team revise the Making Socially Accepting Inclusive Classrooms (MOSAIC) program for use in general education classrooms. The MOSAIC program contains a set of teacher strategies to encourage students’ increased liking and decreased disliking of one another, which was measured by sociometric ratings. Teachers’ use of MOSAIC strategies was observed and self-reported over a school year. Results indicated that teacher practices designed to improve children’s classroom behaviors, as well as practices that encouraged peers to be more inclusive, each predicted children receiving better sociometric ratings at the end of the year after accounting for ratings at the beginning of the year. Some practices appeared uniquely efficacious for children with elevated ADHD symptoms, whereas others were useful for all children but had accentuated benefits for typical children. Implications for practitioners are discussed.

Parenting stress in long‐term foster carers: A longitudinal study

AbstractBackgroundChildren in foster care tend to exhibit adverse psychosocial functioning, and foster parents tend to experience high levels of stress related to their role as carers.MethodsThe study included 60 foster children and 42 children living in biological families as a comparison group. Caregiver stress was measured using the Parenting Stress Index, while child problem behavior was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children and their primary carer were assessed when the children were 2, 3, and 8 years, respectively.ResultsThe results showed higher stress scores for foster parents at all time points, with the difference being most pronounced in stress related to the child. Problem behavior was also higher for foster children at age 8 years. Foster parent stress increased in all domains during the course of the study. Child domain stress was the only significant predictor of child problem behavior.ConclusionFoster parents are overall more stressed than biological parents, with stress levels increasing over time. Foster children have more behavior problems, and these problems are closely related to their carers' child‐related stress. Further implications for the reduction of parenting stress are discussed.

The Role of Parental Attributions and Discipline in Predicting Child Problem Behavior in Preschoolers with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Although previous research indicates that both parental attributions for child misbehavior and parenting discipline are associated with child problem behavior, there is a lack of research examining the relationship between these variables in parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study investigated the relations between parental attributions, parenting discipline, and child problem behavior in parents of preschoolers with ASD (n = 67) as compared to parents of neurotypically developing preschoolers (n = 57). Group differences in levels of parental attributions of child internality, child stability, and child controllability, as well as lax and overreactive discipline and level of parent-reported child problem behavior, were analyzed. Additionally, child ASD status, parental attributions of controllability, lax discipline, and child problem behavior were examined within a serial multiple mediator model. Results indicated that, compared to parents of neurotypical preschoolers, parents of preschoolers with ASD were more likely to use lax discipline and attribute their child’s problem behavior to factors that were uncontrollable by the child and stable over time. There were no significant group differences in attributions of child internality or overreactive discipline. The relation between child ASD status and level of child problem behavior was mediated through attributions of low child controllability and lax discipline, although controllability was the primary pathway to child problem behavior. The findings contribute to the limited literature on parental attributions, parenting discipline, and child problem behavior, and can inform future intervention for child problem behavior, particularly in the area of parent training.

How Early Is Too Early? Identification of Elevated, Persistent Problem Behavior in Childhood.

We inquire how early in childhood children most at risk for problematic patterns of internalizing and externalizing behaviors can be accurately classified. Yearly measures of anxiety/depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors (ages 6-13; n = 334), respectively, are used to identify behavioral trajectories. We then assess the degree to which limited spans of yearly information allow for the correct classification into the elevated, persistent pattern of the problem behavior, identified theoretically and empirically as high-risk and most in need of intervention. The true positive rate (sensitivity) is below 70% for anxiety/depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors using behavioral information through ages 6 and 7. Conversely, by age 9, over 90% of the high-risk individuals are correctly classified (i.e., sensitivity) for anxiety/depressive symptoms, but this threshold is not met until age 12 for aggressive behaviors. Notably, the false positive rate of classification for both high-risk problem behaviors is consistently low using each limited age span of data (< 5%). These results suggest that correct classification into highest risk groups of childhood problem behavior is limited using behavioral information observed at early ages. Prevention programming targeting those who will display persistent, elevated levels of problem behavior should be cognizant of the degree of misclassification and how this varies with the accumulation of behavioral information. Continuous assessment of problem behaviors is needed throughout childhood in order to continually identify high-risk individuals most in need of intervention as behavior patterns are sufficiently realized.

What is social competence? An investigation into the concept among children with antisocial behaviours

ABSTRACTThe study investigates child social competence a three different measurement levels (overall level, factor level, and item level), in a sample of parents and children participating in interventions towards emerging or present child problem behaviours. Parents of 550 children aged 3–12 (71% boys) evaluated social competence using the Home and Community Social Behaviour Scales (HCSBS), which assess two aspects of the concept: peer relations and self-management/compliance. An additive index across all 32 items was made to examine how parents reported overall social competence across ages, whereas factor analysis was used to investigate their underlying latent structure. Network analysis was used to investigate how the social competence items connect and interact. Results showed that parents reported higher levels of overall social competence among the girls compared to the boys, but this difference vanished about age 12. Factor analyses showed that a bifactor-ESEM model obtained the best model fit to data, whereas the network analysis revealed differential clustering and strength centrality for the items. Implications of these results are discussed.

How Do Mothers\u2019 Parental Attributions Affect Child Outcomes from a Positive Parenting Intervention? A Mediation Study

Problematic parental attributions refer to negative causal explanations for child problem behaviour and are known to predict parenting intervention outcomes. This study examines alternative accounts of how mothers’ problematic parental attributions, operationalised as negative pre-treatment and change resistant parental attributions during treatment, may affect child behaviour outcomes from a parenting intervention program. Putative mediators included parental feelings about the child and use of harsh discipline. Participants were 163 families with children aged from 3 to 16 referred to specialist clinics for the treatment of conduct problems. Measures were collected as part of pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments. Mothers’ pre-treatment and change resistant parental attributions were associated with smaller improvements in parental feelings at the end of treatment which in turn were associated with greater use of harsh discipline. Greater use of harsh discipline was associated with greater conduct problems overall. Smaller improvements in parental feelings mediated the effects of pre-treatment and change resistant parental attributions on outcomes in mothers’ use of harsh discipline and mediated the effects of change resistant parental attributions on outcomes in child conduct problems. Smaller improvements in parental feelings about the child may act as a mechanism that explains the impact of problematic parental attributions on treatment outcomes.

Screen time and problem behaviors in children: exploring the mediating role of sleep duration

BackgroundPrevious research examining the relationship between screen time (ST) and psychological health outcomes have primarily focused on one type of ST (i.e., television), while little research has considered other types of screens (e.g., videos, movies, social media), screen content (e.g., violent video games), or potential mediating variables. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess ST types and content and their association with problem behaviors, and to determine whether these relationships were mediated by sleep duration.MethodsParents and children provided cross-sectional baseline data (2016–18) as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, a broadly US representative sample of 11,875 children aged 9 to 10 years. Parents self-reported their children’s emotional and behavioral syndromes via the Child Behavior Checklist and sleep duration using one item from the Parent Sleep Disturbance Scale. Children self-reported their ST behavior, which comprised ST types (television/movies, videos, video games, and social media) and content (mature-rated video games and R-rated movies).ResultsTime spent in various ST types was positively associated with problem behaviors: watching television/movies was associated with a 5.9% increase in rule-breaking behavior (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.059), 5% increase in social problems (IRR = 1.050), 4% increase in aggressive behavior (IRR = 1.040), and 3.7% increase in thought problems (IRR = 1.037). Greater time spent playing mature-rated video games was associated with greater somatic complaints (IRR = 1.041), aggressive behavior (IRR = 1.039), and reduced sleep duration (IRR = .938). Sleep duration mediated the relationship between ST (type and content) and problem behaviors, albeit the effect sizes were small. The largest effects were observed between sleep duration and all problem behaviors, with greater sleep duration predicting an 8.8–16.6% decrease in problem behaviors (IRRs ranging from .834 to .905).ConclusionGreater time spent in ST behavior was associated with greater problem behaviors among children. There was strong evidence that longer sleep duration was associated with reduced problem behaviors. While sleep duration mediated the effects of ST on problem behaviors, other potential mediating variables need to be investigated in future research.

The relation between behavioral problems and social competence: A correlational Meta-analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that children who display behavioral problems also tend to display low social competence. The relation does however vary according to type of behavior being measured, as well as demographic characteristics of the respondent. The present meta-analysis examined the correlation between different types of behavioral problems and social competence among children aged 3–13, and investigated possible moderators in this relation.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted for English language studies from January 2008 to January 2018 that reported correlations between three types of behavioral problems (i.e., externalizing behaviors, conduct problems, or aggression) and two types of social competence (i.e., social competence or social skills). The studies included reports from parents and teachers, or both as a dyad. The review included data from 54 independent studies and a total of 46,828 participants. Effect sizes were estimated using a random effects approach and moderator analyses between subsets of categorical variables were tested by the significant Q test.ResultsResults showed an overall correlation between behavioral problems and social competence of medium effect size (r = −.42, p < .01). Moderation analyses indicated no significant differences for different types of behavioral problems or social competence. However, a significant difference was found with regard to type of respondent; the correlation was significantly higher when both measures were reported by the same respondent (teacher or parent) compared to when measures were reported by parent-teacher as a dyad.ConclusionsFindings summarized and quantified a robust negative correlation between behavioral problems and social competence. The results indicate that intervention programs targeting problem behaviors in children would benefit from reducing behavioral problems and in concert, increase social competence to help children with emerging or present problem behaviors.

Supplemental Material for Does Prenatal Stress Amplify Effects of Postnatal Maternal Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms on Child Problem Behavior?

Supplemental Material for Does Prenatal Stress Amplify Effects of Postnatal Maternal Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms on Child Problem Behavior?

Parenting Strategies Used by Parents of Children with ASD: Differential Links with Child Problem Behaviour

Here, we explored the structure of the ‘Parenting Strategies Questionnaire’, a new scale designed to measure parenting strategies for problem behaviour in ASD. We then examined links between child behaviour and parenting in a sample of 222 predominantly-UK parents of ASD children exhibiting behaviour found difficult or challenging. Analysis revealed three parenting subscales: Accommodation, Reinforcement Approaches and Reducing Uncertainty. Both Accommodation and Reducing Uncertainty were linked to child problem behaviour. Child factors explained up to 29% of the variance in Accommodation, with Socially Inflexible Non-compliance the strongest predictor, and up to 24% of the variance in Reducing Uncertainty, with Intolerance of Uncertainty the strongest predictor. Child factors were not related to Reinforcement Approaches. Longitudinal studies investigating these relationships are needed.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between father involvement and problem behaviour among preschool children

ABSTRACT The meta-analysis presented in this paper was conducted with the aim of clarifying the differences in the research on the relationship between father involvement and problem behaviour among preschool children, and also to analyze the reasons behind these research differences. By applying a literature retrieval and screening strategy, 41 studies were sourced, with a total of 269 independent samples and 22635 participants. The meta-analysis found a low negative correlation between positive father involvement and the externalizing problem behaviour of preschool children, and the same correlation between such involvement and internalizing problem behaviour. Negative father involvement was found to be moderately positively correlated with the latter behaviour. The moderating effects of each variable emerged as different, complex, and interactive. The implications of these findings are that families, kindergartens, communities and the government should work together to guarantee father involvement and improve the quality of the latter.

Clinically Significant and Reliable Change: Comparing an Evidence-based Intervention to Usual Care

Multiple Family Groups (MFG) is an evidence-based behavioral parent training developed with a specific focus on increasing engagement and decreasing treatment barriers for families of children with disruptive behavior problems within high-risk communities. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of MFG in improving oppositional behavior at the group-level compared to services as usual (SAU). However, information is lacking regarding intervention effectiveness on an individual-level (i.e., clinical significance). The reliable change index and clinical cutoff score method was utilized to determine whether MFG produced clinically meaningful changes compared to SAU for both child- and parent-level outcomes in a sample of 320 youth aged 7 to 11-years-old. A significantly greater percentage of children in the MFG group experienced clinically meaningful change in problem behaviors compared to the SAU group, (p = 0.003, 95% [CI]: 1.610–18.481). A significantly greater number of parents in MFG also demonstrated clinically meaningful change in parental experience of stress compared to SAU, (p = 0.01, 95% [CI]: 1.255–14.704). Findings suggested clinically significant and reliable improvements in child problem behaviors and decreases in parental perceived stress for families in MFG compared to SAU. Nevertheless, analyses demonstrated that both MFG and SAU resulted in few families obtaining clinically significant or reliable change in their functioning. Ongoing assessments and deeper understanding of intervention effect are needed to better service families in need. Both group- and individual-level comparisons should be considered when examining the effects of a treatment as they may provide a nuanced understanding of evidence-based interventions.

The association of prenatal alcohol exposure on the cognitive abilities and behaviour profiles of 4-year-old children: a prospective cohort study.

To examine the association of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on cognitive abilities and behaviour profiles of 4-year-old children. Prospective cohort study. Cape Town, South Africa. A cohort of 500 children. Children from the Safe Passage Study, which prospectively collected PAE, were included. Cognition and behavioural profiles were assessed. Children with and without PAE were compared. Mean scores were compared, with P≤0.05 considered significant. Results were adjusted for confounding factors. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for children measured intellectual and mental ability; the NEPSY-II instrument assessed neurocognitive performance. The caregiver completed the Preschool Child Behaviour checklist to rate the child's problem behaviours and competencies. Two hundred children had no PAE, 117 children had mild to moderate PAE (with no binge episodes), 113 children had heavy PAE (with one or two binge episodes), and 70 children had very heavy PAE (with three or more binge episodes). Women who binge drank had significantly higher rates of smoking, marijuana use, and methamphetamine use. Low to moderate PAE had no effect on cognitive ability and behaviour. Very heavy PAE was associated with problems performing simultaneous as well as sequential functions, lower scores in the language and sensorimotor domain, and more attention and pervasive developmental problems. Low to moderate PAE was not associated with cognitive processing or developmental problems. Women who had many binge drinking episodes during pregnancy were the most at risk for cognitive processing, neurocognitive, and behaviour problems in their children at 4years of age. Low to moderate prenatal alcohol use was not associated with cognitive or behavioural problems in 4-year-olds.