Focusing on Parenting Variability in Relation to Adolescent Externalizing Symptoms

• In Event: How experiencing uncertainty shapes the development of learning and decision-making

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While harsh and punitive parenting can negatively impact child development (Pinquart, 2017), recent research has suggested that caregiver “volatility” may also have profound consequences on development, including influencing behavior and neurobiology. For example, unpredictable maternal behavior can profoundly influence a child’s mental and cognitive outcomes (Davis et al., 2017). These early studies, however, raise several critical questions about the influence of caregiver “volatility” across both positive and negative parenting practices. As such, it is unclear if volatility in positive and/or negative parenting might exert deleterious influences on child well-being. Here, and connected to the central themes of the special issue, we attempted to investigate two interlinked questions about caregiver “volatility” in the transmission of risk for externalizing symptomatology. First, we were interested if heightened caregiver volatility in positive and/or negative parenting practices might relate to greater levels of externalizing symptomatology. Second, we wanted to understand links between day-to-day stress and caregiver “volatility”. Past work has found that family stress and parental negative affect often impact parenting behaviors. Such research, however, typically examines relations between these processes on longer timescales (months or years between assessments, e.g., Conger et al., 1992).

METHODS: To begin to answer these connected questions, we collected data from 120 caregivers (88% mothers) of youth (M=12.71, SD=1.81, range 10-16) using an online survey platform and dense sampling of parenting, stress, and youth externalizing outcomes (9 weekly surveys). This included well-validated measures including the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and measures of environmental stress (Perceived Stress Scale, Negative Events Scale, CHAOS) in attempt to overcome the retrospective bias and temporally coarse sampling present in past studies.

RESULTS [Preliminary]: Using this intensive longitudinal data and novel statistical modeling of variability (i.e., mean of squared successive differences; coefficient of variation), initial results suggested that higher variability in positive parenting practices was linked to greater externalizing symptoms in youth. Analyses are ongoing, focused on the sociodemographic (i.e., parental age; socioeconomic status) and experiential factors (i.e., stress exposure; COVID-related stress) that might contribute to caregiver “volatility”.

DISCUSSION: Our richer and more robust assessments may provide a powerful window into how variations in parenting gives rise to externalizing problems. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the factors that may moderate “volatility” could have important implications for prevention and interventions programs. Relevant perspectives on COVID-related negative affect will also be integrated into the presentation of our results (space permitting). We see such work as a state-of-science approach to dealing with intensive longitudinal data and a novel lens to consider dimensions of parenting. Furthermore, as we unpack our findings in relation to past research, we believe this discussion will contribute new theoretical vantage points about factors contributing to externalizing psychopathology.

Authors

• Jamie L Hanson, University of Pittsburgh
  Presenting Author

• Esther Palacios-Barrios

• Kelly R Barry, University of Houston