Poster #99 - Understanding the Nature of Associations between Family Instability, Unsupportive Parenting, and Children's Externalizing Symptoms

• In Event: 3-159 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

Family instability, characterized by the cumulative amount of transitions (e.g., caregiver intimate relationship transitions, caregiver changes, residential moves, caregiver income/job loss) experienced by the family, has consistently been identified as a precursor of childhood externalizing symptoms (e.g., Ackerman et al., 1999; Milan et al., 2006). Although the salience of instability as a risk factor for externalizing symptoms is well-established, little is known about the family processes that underpin children’s susceptibility. Prior theory and research characterize supportive parents as those that are actively engaged with their child, provide warmth and support, and display synchrony and appropriate sensitivity to their child’s needs and developmental stage (e.g., Bornstein, 1989). Conceptual models of parenting stress have proposed that the strain of experiencing family instability may manifest in parents’ subsequent difficulties in providing support to their child during situations that involve challenge, guided learning, and cooperation (e.g., Belsky, 1984; Belsky et al., 2012; Osborne & McLanahan, 2007). Consequently, the disconnect between parents and their children may account for risks associated with instability for children. The present study represents the first definitive test of a more proximal family process (i.e., unsupportive parenting) as a mediating mechanism in the predictive pathway between family instability and children’s externalizing symptoms during the transition into the early school years. To achieve a more definitive understanding of the nature of associations between the primary variables in our study, we also tested the utility of complementary pathways, including (a) a “child-driven” model proposing that children’s externalizing symptoms serve as precursors to subsequent unsupportive parenting and family instability and (b) potential bidirectional transactions between family instability, unsupportive parenting, and child externalizing symptoms.

Participants in this longitudinal (three annual measurement occasions) project included 243 racially diverse (48% Black) 4-year-old children, their parents, and classroom teachers. At all three time-points, mothers reported on the number of transitions experienced by the family in the previous year, maternal parenting behaviors were observationally rated during a family interaction task, and teachers completed scales assessing children’s externalizing symptoms (see Table 1).

Results of cross-lagged autoregressive SEM tests are presented in Figure 1. As hypothesized, higher levels of family instability at Wave 1 predicted decreases in supportive parenting from Wave 1 to Wave 2, which, in turn predicted increases in externalizing symptoms from Wave 2 to Wave 3. Tests in RMediation (Tofighi & MacKinnon, 2001) indicated that this indirect pathway was significantly different from zero, 95% CI [.002, .075]. Analyses also revealed a bidirectional relationship between parenting and family instability over time, such that higher levels of instability predicted decreases in supportive parenting, which, in turn predicted increases in family instability (significant indirect effect, 95% CI [.004, .061]). Results were robust even in the context of sociodemographic covariates. Findings will be discussed in relation to models of parenting stress (e.g., Belsky, 1984; Fomby & Cherlin, 2007; Osborne & McLanahan, 2007), family spillover (e.g., Bolger et al., 1989; Erel & Burman, 1995), and their theoretical and practical implications for understanding children’s adaptation in family contexts.

Authors

• Jesse L. Coe, Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  Presenting Author

• Patrick Davies, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rochelle Hentges, University of Calgary
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melissa Sturge-Apple, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael T Ripple, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author