As I say, not as I do: Parental Self-Control’s Contribution to Children’s Self-Regulation and Behavior Problems

• In Event: Developmental Psychopathology Perspectives on Externalizing Behavior Problems Among Young Children

Abstract

There is a robust literature indicating that better parental self-control is related to better child development in a variety of domains (see Bridgett et al., 2015 for review). Given the evidence for positive, direct relations between parental self-control and important child outcomes, the next logical step in understanding these associations may be to test potential mediators. There are strikingly few studies of whether child self-regulation mediates the association between parental self-control and child behavior. Varied findings (e.g., Sleddens et al., 2016), as well as the general dearth of longitudinal studies of these associations, underscores the importance of this study which will examine how the effects of maternal self-control on child behavior problems in early childhood might be mediated by child self-regulation.
We tested the associations in a sample of 306 children (45% boys, Time 1 M age=3.00 years, SD=.04) and their mothers who participated in a longitudinal study spanning early childhood. Maternal self-report on the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS; Tangney et al., 2004) measured maternal self-control at Time 1. Following guidance from previous research (Maloney et al., 2011), composite categories of restraint and impulsivity were created with a subset of items. Independent coders rated child self-regulation via video-recorded observational tasks tapping executive control and delay ability at Time 2 when children were 3.5 years. Child adjustment measures were examined at Time 3 when children were 4.5 years. Coders rated child compliance using video-recorded parent-child interactions. Mothers and teachers reported on child externalizing symptoms using the broadband externalizing scales from the Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher Rating Form (CBCL & TRF; Achenbach, 1991), and mothers reported on child self-control using the Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS; Gresham & Elliot, 1990). In preliminary analyses, bivariate correlations were examined. In final analyses for the presentation, we will conduct structural equation modeling using lavaan in R--testing separate models for each behavioral outcome. Demographic variables of child age and sex, family income and cumulative risk measured by maternal report will be included as covariates. Given the detail and authors’ familiarity with planned analyses, these analyses are feasible to be completed for presentation.
In preliminary analyses, maternal restraint (r = .18, p<.01) and impulsivity (r = -.20, p<.01) were correlated with child self-control, and parent, but not teacher, reported externalizing symptoms were related to parent restraint (r = -.21, p<.01) and impulsivity (r = .22, p<.01). There were no significant associations between maternal self-control and observed child self-regulation. However, executive control was correlated with observed child compliance (r = .28, p<.01), mother-reported child self-control (r = .18, p<.01), and teacher-reported externalizing symptoms (r = -.19, p<.01). Delay ability was also associated with compliance (r = .22, p<.01) and teacher reported externalizing (r = -.27, p<.01).
These findings suggest that facets of parent self-control are prospectively associated with child adjustment in early childhood. While there is currently little evidence to implicate child self-regulation as a mediator, this study demonstrates that parent restraint and impulsivity may play a role in children’s developing self-regulation and behavior problems.

Authors

• Michele R Smith, University of Washington
  Presenting Author

• Lisa Shimomaeda, University of Washington
  Non-Presenting Author

• Liliana J Lengua, University of Washington
  Non-Presenting Author