title: Association between Maternal sensitivity and Externalizing Behavior from Preschool to Preadolescence.
abstract: Using data from the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N=1364), this study examined the association between mothers' sensitivity and children's externalizing behavior from preschool to preadolescence. Externalizing behavior declined on average across this period with a slowing of this decline around middle childhood. Maternal sensitivity remained relatively stable on average, and there was significant variation across mothers. A decrease in maternal sensitivity from ages 3 to 11 was related to an increase in externalizing behavior from ages 4 to 12. A model-based test of the direction of the effect suggested that the association between changes in maternal sensitivity and externalizing behavior from ages 4 to 11 was driven by child effects on mothers and not vice-versa. Between late preschool age and preadolescence, the behavior problems of children appear to strongly influence the sensitive support of mothers. Practical implications were discussed in light of these findings.
authors.affiliation: 3-C Institute for Social Development.
authors.forename: Feihong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Department of Statistics, Purdue University.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.affiliation: Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: W Roger
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Mills-Koonce
authors.affiliation: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garrett-Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Martha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cox
keywords: child effect; externalizing behavior; maternal sensitivity