Multiple determinants of externalizing behavior in 5-year-olds: a longitudinal model.
In a community sample of 116 children, assessments of parent-child interaction, parent-child attachment, and various parental, child, and contextual characteristics at 15 and 28 months and at age 5 were used to predict externalizing behavior at age 5, as rated by parents and teachers. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and path analysis yielded a significant longitudinal model for the prediction of age 5 externalizing behavior, with independent contributions from the following predictors: child sex, partner support reported by the caregiver, disorganized infant-parent attachment at 15 months, child anger proneness at 28 months, and one of the two parent-child interaction factors observed at 28 months, namely negative parent-child interactions. The other, i.e., a lack of effective guidance, predicted externalizing problems only in highly anger-prone children. Furthermore, mediated pathways of influence were found for the parent-child interaction at 15 months (via disorganized attachment) and parental ego-resiliency (via negative parent-child interaction at 28 months).
Smeekens
Sanny
S
Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Riksen-Walraven
J Marianne
JM
van Bakel
Hedwig J A
HJ
D000786:Anger; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D002660:Child Guidance; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012307:Risk Factors; D013694:Temperament