title: Parent-Child Automaticity: Links to Child Coping and Behavior and Engagement in Parent Training.
abstract: This research investigated parent-child automaticity (i.e., automatic ways of thinking, feeling, and interacting) as it relates to child coping and behavior and caregiver engagement in a preventive parenting program, as well as program-related changes in automaticity. 610 caregivers (93% mothers) of children ages 3-6 years (52% boys; 49% African American) enrolled in the Parenting our Children to Excellence (PACE) program, and completed pre- and post- intervention assessments (N= 544 at post-intervention). Daycare providers also provided reports of school coping and behavior. Parent-child automaticity predicted parent and teacher- reported child social coping and aggressive behavior. Contrary to hypotheses, parents reporting elevated parent-child automaticity attended significantly more PACE sessions. A significant time x attendance interaction indicated decreased automaticity following the PACE program. Parent-child automaticity during the preschool years is an important correlate of child behavior and coping, and may be a motivating factor for parents to attend parent training programs.
authors.affiliation: National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jobe-Shields
authors.affiliation: National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Moreland
authors.affiliation: National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425.
authors.forename: Rochelle F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dumas
keywords: aggressive behavior; automaticity; child coping; parent training