Caregiving Environmental Risk, Parenting, and Aggression from Infancy to Adolescence in a High-Risk Sample.

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Aggression in adolescence is associated with short- and long-term costs, including peer rejection, psychopathology, and substance use (Fite et al., 2009). Previous work has found developmental pathways to aggression in early adolescence (EA) through caregiving environmental risks (CER) and parenting risk (Gutman et al., 2018). However, the dynamic interplay between these risks and child aggression over time is not well understood, particularly at the within-family level. It is also unclear how these transactional processes operate in at-risk families. To address these gaps, we used a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine both within- and between-family variability in the reciprocal relations between both CER and parenting (maternal harshness and sensitivity) and child aggression from infancy to kindergarten, and ultimately, how these influences jointly contribute to EA aggression. We also examined whether these processes differ by child sex at the within- and between-family levels. The sample included 216 mother-child dyads (49% boys) from a prospective study of prenatal cocaine exposure (116 cocaine-exposed, 100 non-cocaine exposed). Assessments occurred in early-infancy (1 month), late-infancy (7-13 months), toddler age (24 months), early-preschool age (36 months), late-preschool age (48 months), kindergarten age (60 months) and EA (Myears = 13.26, SD = .83). In early-infancy, mothers were, on average, 29.53 years old (SD = 6.06), and most were single (66%) and receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (76%). In EA, most adolescents identified as African American (57.6%). To assess child aggression, we used maternal reports on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Aggressive Behavior subscale from toddlerhood to kindergarten and maternal (CBCL) and adolescent (Youth Self Report) reports on the Aggressive Behavior subscale in EA. Harsh and sensitive parenting were assessed during a free-play task at late-infancy, toddlerhood, and early- and late-preschool ages and during a picture decorating task at kindergarten age. We computed a composite of CER at each time (from early-infancy to kindergarten age) using maternal reports of caregiving instability, mental health, exposure to violence, and postnatal substance use. Between-family associations suggested that child aggression was related to higher CER and harshness and marginally lower sensitivity. At the within-person level, however, higher than average child aggression at early-preschool age predicted lower harshness at late-preschool age, which predicted lower aggression at kindergarten age. Further, receiving higher than average levels of sensitive parenting as toddlers predicted increases in girls’ aggression, but decreases in boys’ aggression at early-preschool age. Regarding associations between CER and child aggression, higher than average levels of child aggression consistently predicted increased exposure to CER a year later, although the effect of CER on child aggression differed by child sex and age. Specifically, exposure to higher than average CER in late-infancy and toddler age predicted increased subsequent child aggression. Increased CER at toddler age was also related to higher child aggression at kindergarten age. Discussion focuses on the importance of considering the caregiving risk context, how child aggression can exacerbate risks, and how girls and boys have different and sometimes unexpected responses to parenting within this context.

Authors

• Margaret Manges, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo)
  Presenting Author

• Danielle Marie Seay, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amanda Nickerson, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hannah Grossman, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Al Delmerico, Buffalo State College
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stephanie Godleski, Rochester Institute of Technology
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pamela Schuetze, State University of New York Buffalo State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rina D. Eiden, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author