Pathways From Early Risk to Child Adjustment: A new Look at the Family, Neighborhoods, and Schools

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

In this symposium, we advance well-known models of pathways from early disadvantage to child outcomes. The family stress model proposes that parental mental health and parenting are a probable mechanisms on the pathway between early risk and adversity, and child developmental outcomes (Elder et al., 1992). Depending on resources and stressors, the developmental contexts of neighborhoods and schools may serve as protective environments for children at risk, or may exacerbate the negative consequences of family disadvantage (Leventhal, 2018).

The first set of papers advance the family stress model by adding two different perspectives on resilience. The first study demonstrates that the family stress model can be expanded to include multiple interactive dimensions of parenting. Specifically, dyadic synchrony moderated the association between harsh parenting and conduct problems. The second paper demonstrates that the validity of the family stress model differed as a function of child temperament; the model was only predictive among children who are receptive to environmental influences.

The second set of papers advance our understanding of the role played by neighborhoods and schools. The third study showed how negative effects of adverse childhood experiences were buffered by neighborhood resources, but also exacerbated by neighborhood risks. The fourth study considers the context of schools, through which family disadvantage may predict negative developmental outcomes; the study finds that family income sorted children into different levels of socially resourced schools, but the level of school social resources had a weak association with children's achievement.

Sub Unit

• Family Context & Processes

Chair

• Henrik D. Zachrisson, University of Oslo

Individual Presentations

• The Family Stress Model, Harsh Parenting, Dyadic Syncrony, and Behavior Problems - Presenting Author: RoseMarie J Rohrs, Boston College; Ann Easterbrooks, Tufts University

• The Family Stress Model in Norway: Exploring the Role of Child Temperament - Presenting Author: Gulbin Sengul-Inal, University of Oslo; Henrik D. Zachrisson, University of Oslo; Nicolai Topstad Borgen, Universitetet i Oslo; Eric Dearing, Boston College

• Adverse Childhood Experiences, Nieghborhood Educational Resources, and Behavior Problems - Presenting Author: Claudia Kruzik, Boston College; Rebekah Levine Coley, Boston College

• Racial and Ethnic Differences in Associations Between Family and School Resources and Achievement - Presenting Author: Dabin Hwang, Boston College; Rebekah Levine Coley, Boston College; Daphne A. Henry, University of Pittsburgh; Bryn Spielvogel, University of Utah