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Social Problems in Children: Exploring the Contribution of Triarchic Traits and Parenting

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Abstract

Social problems are transdiagnostically relevant in the development of various forms of psychopathology. It is thus important to consider contributing factors both at the individual and contextual level. Among 110 children (Mage = 8.85 years), we examined the contribution of triarchic trait dimensions (boldness, meanness, disinhibition) and parenting to the explanation of social problems. Using existing parent-report scales, triarchic scale-level representations were developed and validated. Significant main effects emerged for all three trait dimensions; meanness and disinhibition positively, boldness negatively, associated with social problems. Higher levels of disinhibition and meanness were associated with increased social problems in the context of higher levels of negative, or decreased levels of positive parenting; boldness acted as a protective factor in these contexts. Results suggest that the triarchic trait dimensions (1) can be studied in children, (2) act as risk and protective factors, and (3) interact with parenting to contribute to social problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, PO Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA

    Lindsey M. Green, Isabella M. Palumbo & Robert D. Latzman

  2. Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Yuri Shishido

  3. Department of Early Childhood Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    John E. Kesner

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  1. Lindsey M. Green
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Green, L.M., Palumbo, I.M., Shishido, Y. et al. Social Problems in Children: Exploring the Contribution of Triarchic Traits and Parenting. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 51, 151–162 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00918-0

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