Poster #152 - Unsupportive Parent Emotion Socialization and Child Behavior Problems: Moderated Mediation Models

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Behavior problems, including internalizing and externalizing problems, frequently occur in children (Achenbach, 1991; Zhao et al., 2012). Literature has documented that family factors, including parent–child relationship and negative parenting practices such as unsupportive parent emotion socialization, contribute to child behavior problems (Eisenberg et al., 1996; Fung & Lau, 2010). Unsupportive parent emotion socialization characterized by parental punitive, distress, and minimization reactions to child negative emotions is related to child behavior problems (Fabes et al., 2002; Tao et al., 2010). Parent–child relationship, which is sensitive to parenting practices (Dixon et al., 2008; Schuiringa et al., 2015), has been suggested to mediate the link between parent emotion socialization and child behavior problems (Eisenberg et al., 1998). Furthermore, research suggests that respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a psychophysiological marker of regulatory control (Beauchaine, 2001; Porges, 2007), could moderate the associations between parenting practices and child behavior problems (Hastings & De, 2008). The present study aimed to examine (1) whether parent–child relationship mediated the links between unsupportive parent emotion socialization and child behavior problems and (2) if child RSA baseline moderated the links between the family factors and child behavior problems. The proposed conceptual framework is presented in Figure 1.

64 mother-child dyads and 18 father-child dyads in Beijing, China voluntarily participated. The participating children were 52 boys and 30 girls, with an average age of 5.39 (SD = 1.10) years. Unsupportive parent emotion socialization was measured by the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES; Fabes et al., 1990). Parent–child relationship was measured by parent–child conflict and closeness subscales in the Chinese Version Child-parent Relationship Scale (CPRS; Pianta, 1992; Zhang et al., 2008). Child internalizing and externalizing problems were measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997). Child RSA baseline derived from electrocardiograph (ECG) data recorded during a 4-min resting period.

Mediation analyses suggested that parent–child conflict mediated the effects of unsupportive parent emotion socialization on child internalizing problems ( = 0.15, 95%CI = [0.03, 0.27]) and externalizing problems ( = 0.12, 95%CI = [0.003, 0.23]). Moderated mediation analyses suggested that the interaction effects of RSA baseline by parent–child closeness (b = 0.24, SE = 0.11, t = 2.22, p < 0.05) and by conflict (b =0.12, SE = 0.06, t = 2.13, p < 0.05) on child externalizing problems were significant. Parent–child closeness was related to child externalizing problems for children with lower levels of RSA baseline (b = -0.43, SE = 0.10, t = -4.10, p < 0.001), but not for those with higher levels of RSA baseline (b = -0.10, SE = 0.23, t = -0.41, p > 0.05). Parent–child conflict was positively related to child externalizing problems for children with lower(b = 0.19, SE = 0.05, t = 3.86, p < 0.001) and higher (b = 0.32, SE = 0.10, t = 3.30, p < 0.01) levels of RSA baseline. These findings indicate that both family factors and child biological characteristics play important roles in child behavior problems.

Authors

• Longfeng Li, Beijing Normal University
  Presenting Author

• Yinghe Chen, Beijing Normal University
  Non-Presenting Author