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Interactions Between Maternal Parenting and Children’s Early Disruptive Behavior: Bidirectional Associations across the Transition from Preschool to School Entry

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Abstract

This study was a prospective 2-year longitudinal investigation of associations between negative maternal parenting and disruptive child behavior across the preschool to school transition. Our main goals were to 1) determine the direction of association between early maternal negativity and child disruptive behaviors across this important developmental transition and 2) examine whether there would be different patterns of associations for boys and girls. Participants were 235 children (111 girls; T1; M = 37.7 months, T2; M = 63.4 months) and their mothers and teachers. Observational and multi-informant ratings of child disruptive behavior showed differential patterns of stability and associations with measures of parenting risk. Results indicated bidirectional and interactive contributions of externalizing behavior and negative parenting across time. Results also indicated that risk mechanisms operate similarly for both sexes. Findings support transactional models of disruptive child behavior that highlight the joint contributions of parents and children.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (RO1MH57489) to Sheryl Olson and Arnold Sameroff. We thank the children, parents, and teachers who generously shared their time with us, and many others who gave invaluable assistance with study administration, data management, and coding: Hyein Chang, Annelie Ott, Gail Benninghoff, Meribeth Pezda, David Kerr, and Nestor Lopez-Duran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Lindsey A. Combs-Ronto & Sheryl L. Olson

  2. Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Erika S. Lunkenheimer

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Arnold J. Sameroff

  4. TIES for Families/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 21081 S. Western Ave. Ste 295, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA

    Lindsey A. Combs-Ronto

  5. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Erika S. Lunkenheimer

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  1. Lindsey A. Combs-Ronto
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  4. Arnold J. Sameroff
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Correspondence to Lindsey A. Combs-Ronto.

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Combs-Ronto, L.A., Olson, S.L., Lunkenheimer, E.S. et al. Interactions Between Maternal Parenting and Children’s Early Disruptive Behavior: Bidirectional Associations across the Transition from Preschool to School Entry. J Abnorm Child Psychol 37, 1151–1163 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9332-2

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