title: Father locus of control and child emotional and behavioral outcomes: a prospective study.
abstract: In a prospective longitudinal study the authors examined the associations between parent locus of control of reinforcement (LOCR), measured before the birth of a child, and behavioral-emotional outcomes in that child at age 7 years. A total of 307 couples completed questionnaires regarding their emotional status and LOCR at their first prenatal care appointment. When their children turned 7 years old, teachers completed questionnaires regarding each participating child's behavior. Findings indicate significant associations between fathers' prenatal LOCR and child outcomes, particularly hyperactivity in sons. Hyperactivity and behavioral-emotional problems in girls, in contrast, were better predicted by maternal prenatal emotional distress. Results provide evidence that paternal and maternal characteristics that predate the birth of a child relate to later behavioral outcomes in that child. Implications for prevention of child psychopathology are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Georgia State University, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA. etone@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Erin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Tone
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goodfellow
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nowicki
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005060:Europe; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011340:Problem Solving; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors