Infant temperament, parenting, and externalizing behavior in first grade: a test of the differential susceptibility hypothesis.
BACKGROUND
This study examines the differential susceptibility hypothesis as it pertains to relations between infant temperament, parenting, and behavior problems in first grade.


METHODS
Data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care were used in a series of hierarchical regression analyses focused on interactions between three aspects of parenting (harshness, sensitivity, productive activity) and temperament as they affect teacher-reported externalizing behavior in first grade. Step #1 included family income-to-needs, maternal education, gender, life events, and amount of child care as control variables, plus infant temperament and the three parenting variables. Step #2 included a single interaction term, the interaction between one of the key parenting variables and child temperament.


RESULTS
Results showed stronger relations between maternal sensitivity and behavior problems for children with difficult temperaments. Likewise, relations between opportunities for productivity and behavior problems were stronger for children with difficult temperaments. Trends were in the same direction for harsh parenting but did not quite reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Having access to experiences that promote coping and build self-regulatory capacities seems particularly valuable for children with difficult temperaments.
Bradley
Robert H
RH
Center for Applied Studies in Education, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204, USA. rhbradley@ualr.edu
Corwyn
Robert F
RF
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016487:Parenting; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013694:Temperament; D014481:United States