Parenting, attention and externalizing problems: testing mediation longitudinally, repeatedly and reciprocally.
BACKGROUND
Building on prior work, this paper tests, longitudinally and repeatedly, the proposition that attentional control processes mediate the effect of earlier parenting on later externalizing problems.


METHODS
Repeated independent measurements of all three constructs--observed parenting, computer-tested attentional control and adult-reported externalizing problems--were subjected to structural equation modeling using data from the large-scale American study of child care and youth development.


RESULTS
Structural equation modeling indicated (a) that greater maternal sensitivity at two different ages (54 months, approximately 6 years) predicted better attentional control on the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) of attention regulation two later ages ( approximately 6/9 years); (2) that better attentional control at three different ages (54 months, approximately 6/9 years) predicted less teacher-reported externalizing problems at three later ages ( approximately 6/8/10 years); and (3) that attentional control partially mediated the effect of parenting on externalizing problems at two different lags (i.e., 54 months--> approximately 6 years--> approximately 8 years; approximately 6 years--> approximately 9 years--> approximately 10 years), though somewhat more strongly for the first. Additionally, (4) some evidence of reciprocal effects of attentional processes on parenting emerged (54 months--> approximately 6 years; approximately 6 years--> approximately 8 years), but not of problem behavior on attention.


CONCLUSIONS
Because attention control partially mediates the effects of parenting on externalizing problems, intervention efforts could target both parenting and attentional processes.
Belsky
Jay
J
Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, London UK. j.belsky@bbk.ac.uk
Pasco Fearon
R M
RM
Bell
Brian
B
D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology