The Role of Maternal Social Support in Child Conduct Problems

• In Event: Longitudinal and Life Course Perspectives on the Development of Psychopathy and Antisocial Behaviour

Abstract

Previous research has shown direct relationships between social support, disadvantage, and parental efficacy. Despite this, few studies consider the predictive relationship between maternal perceptions of social support and subsequent child conduct problems. This research addressed this gap by assessing the prediction of child membership in three categories of conduct problems on the basis of disadvantage, parental efficacy, and social support. These categories: normal (0-2), borderline (3), and abnormal (4-10), are defined by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample consisted of mothers (N=4000) of children (aged 10-11; M = 2040, F = 1960) from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to explore these relationships. In line with previous research, there were significant main effects between level of advantage, parental efficacy, and social support on conduct problems. In relation to social support, the findings suggest that relative to the ‘normal’ category, social support significantly predicted maternal reports of conduct problems in the ‘abnormal’ category. Specifically, mothers who reported lower levels of social support also reported high levels of conduct problems. Level of social support was not a significant predictor of child conduct problems for those in the ‘borderline’ category. These findings suggest that social support interventions may be best targeted to parents of children engaging in the highest level of conduct problems. However, further research is needed to further disentangle the causal direction of these relationships.

Authors

• Corrie Lyn Williams, Griffith University

• Tara Renae McGee, Griffith University

• Christine E.W. Bond, Griffith University