Poster #96 - COVID-19 Life Events Moderate the Relation Between Harsh and Neglectful Parenting and Child Behavior Problems

• In Event: Poster Session 03

Abstract

Greater harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors are linked to more child externalizing and internalizing behavior problems (Widom, 2014). Child behavior problems are associated with other negative life outcomes for children, including poorer peer relations, greater mental health problems (Bayer et al., 2011), and more substance abuse (Mckee et al., 2008). Potentially stressful life events, including those associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, may be associated with increases in both harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors and child behavior problems (Adams et al., 2021; Spinelli et al., 2020). Compared to pre-pandemic levels, during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, more parenting irritability, and lower levels of positive family expressiveness (Westrupp et al., 2021), indicating that strains of the COVID-19 pandemic may be related to meaningful changes in parent and family outcomes. Given the longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for COVID-19-related stress to impact family processes, it is essential to understand how these potentially stressful COVID-19 life events may play a role in relations between harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors and child behavior problems.
In our study, mothers with children ages 2 through 6 years self-reported their harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors, child behavior problems, and COVID-19 life events in numerous domains. We examined relations between harsh and neglectful parenting and child behavior problems with COVID-19 life events as a moderator. We hypothesized that a positive relation between harsh and neglectful parenting and child behavior problems would be exacerbated by a greater number of COVID-19 life events. Child behavior problems were indexed by the Total Problems subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) and a sum score for COVID-19 life events was created using the Economic, Quarantine, Social, and Work/Education subscales of the Epidemic-Pandemic Impact Inventory (EPII; Grasso et al., 2020). A harsh and neglectful parenting score summed the Psychological Aggression, Physical Assault, and Neglect subscales of the Conflict Tactics Scale, Parent-Child version (CTS-PC; Straus et al., 2003).
Linear regression in R revealed a significant interaction between harsh and neglectful parenting and potentially stressful COVID-19 life events in association with child behavior problems (N=165, b=.005, t=2.228, p=.027, model R2=.611). A positive relation between harsh and neglectful parenting and child behavior problems was significant at high, average, and low levels of COVID-19 life events. At all levels of COVID-19 life events, those who engaged in more harsh and neglectful parenting reported also higher levels of child behavior problems. However, this relation was significantly weaker for parents who reported average and low levels of COVID-19 life events.
These findings suggest that COVID-19 life events may play an important role in the magnitude by which harsh and neglectful parenting relates to child behavior. The development of family interventions should include resources that help parents manage potentially stressful life events related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To further explore the ways in which harsh and neglectful parenting, potentially stressful life events, and child behavior problems interact, future research should include other large life stressors.

Authors

• Reghan Halle Lieberman, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

• Emily Dube Dunning, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Presenting Author

• Catherine Diercks, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

• Erika S. Lunkenheimer, Pennsylvania State University, University Park