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Bhadelia A, Barr KR, John JR, Jalaludin B, Dissanyake C, Williams K, Woolfenden S, Eapen V. Difficult Toddler Temperament - Prevalence and Associated Factors at 18-Month Follow-Up of a Birth Cohort. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:967-977. [PMID: 38741582 PMCID: PMC11090188 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s454949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Difficult temperament coupled with other risk factors may lead to mental health problems in childhood and have long-lasting effects in adolescence and adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of parental perception of difficult temperament in toddlers and identify significant factors associated with individual and family-level sociodemographic risk factors. Patients and Methods The prevalence of parental perception of difficult temperament was derived from items in the 18-month follow-up questionnaire within the Watch Me Grow (WMG) longitudinal birth cohort study in a multicultural and socioeconomically disadvantaged community in Sydney, Australia. Data was available for 500 children and their parents. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate the participant characteristics and the prevalence of parental perception of difficult temperament, whereas multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess significant risk factors associated with a difficult temperament. Results Parental perception of difficult temperament in the cohort was 7.3% (n = 492). Findings of the multivariable logistic regression showed that screen time >2 hours a day (AOR 2.43, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.9), child not being read to (AOR 3.92, 95% CI: 1.8, 8.5), and family history of mental health problems (AOR 2.69, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.5) significantly increased the odds of having a difficult temperament. Conclusion Toddlers with difficult temperament were less likely to have received stimulatory experiences, and their families were more likely to be under greater stress. The findings emphasize the importance of parental support and anticipatory guidance in promoting nurturing care to facilitate child health and development, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A’ishah Bhadelia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karlen R Barr
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - James Rufus John
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
- Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Bin Jalaludin
- Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cheryl Dissanyake
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan Woolfenden
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Valsamma Eapen
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
- Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
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Johnson VJ, Choi D, Wheeler LA, Kuo PX. Coparenting support in the context of difficult children: Mother and father differences. FAMILY PROCESS 2023:e12911. [PMID: 37400272 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
While parenting children with difficult behaviors can intensify stress within the entire family system, families may lean on other familial relationships to mitigate that stress. The coparenting relationship is known to play a key role within the family system for child outcomes and familial interactions, but it is not clear whether it eases the stress and challenge of raising a difficult child, nor how that plays out differently for mothers versus fathers. Ninety-six couples (89.7% married) parenting young children (Mean age = 3.22 years) were included in this study. Using cross-sectional and aggregated daily response data, actor-partner interdependence models were used to examine how mothers' and fathers' perceived coparenting support lessened or intensified parenting stress and/or daily problems with their child/children-for themselves or their parenting partner. We found that greater coparenting support reported by mothers coincided with stronger links between the mother's report of child difficulty and daily problems encountered by both mothers and fathers. In contrast, when fathers reported greater coparenting support, the intensity between reported child difficulty and daily problems decreased for mothers, and fathers reported lower parenting stress. Coparenting support also moderated associations between parents' perception of child difficulty and daily problems with their children. These results suggest that mothers incur heightened coparenting support from fathers when experiencing more difficult child behavior and that coparenting support experienced by fathers may alleviate parenting challenges for mothers. These findings further contribute to the literature by emphasizing distinct differences between mothers and fathers in coparenting associations within the family system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Johnson
- Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Dongho Choi
- Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Lorey A Wheeler
- Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Patty X Kuo
- Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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De Palma M, Rooney R, Izett E, Mancini V, Kane R. The relationship between parental mental health, reflective functioning coparenting and social emotional development in 0-3 year old children. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1054723. [PMID: 37325734 PMCID: PMC10267873 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1054723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The transition to parenthood is a high-risk period for many parents and is an important period for child development. Research has identified that parental mental health, reflective functioning (capacity to consider mental states of oneself and others) and coparenting (capacity to work together well as a parenting team) may be particularly significant predictors of later child outcomes, however these factors have seldom been considered together. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the relationship between these factors and the extent to which they predict child social emotional development. Methods Three hundred and fifty parents of infants aged 0 to 3 years 11 months were recruited to complete an online Qualtrics questionnaire. Results Results indicate that both positive coparenting and parental reflective functioning (Pre-mentalizing and Certainty subscales) were found to significantly predict child development. General reflective functioning (Uncertainty subscale) predicted parental depression and anxiety, however unexpectedly, parental mental health was not a significant predictor of child development, but did predict coparenting. General reflective functioning (Certainty subscale) was also found to predict coparenting, which in turn was found to predict parental reflective functioning. We found an indirect effect of general reflective functioning (Certainty) on child SE development via parental reflective functioning (Pre-mentalizing). We also found an indirect effect of negative coparenting on child development via parental reflective functioning (Pre-mentalizing). Discussion The current results support a growing body of research highlighting the important role reflective functioning plays in child development and wellbeing as well as parental mental health and the interparental relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia De Palma
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Rosanna Rooney
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Izett
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Vincent Mancini
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Division of Paediatrics, UWA Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Robert Kane
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Parental anxiety and offspring development: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2023; 327:64-78. [PMID: 36740142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parental anxiety has been associated with increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems for offspring, yet the differing impact of each parent is unclear. As emotional disorders continue to present a significant challenge to the health system and with the role of mothers and fathers changing over the past two decades, we sought to systematically review the available literature for an association between parental anxiety and offspring suboptimal outcomes. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase; PsycINFO and Google Scholar. Reference lists of the included papers were also searched. Data was analysed and grouped based on offspring age. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included in this review. Results suggest that both parents' mental health can impact negatively on the functioning of offspring, during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This association is weak in infancy, with equivocal results, however the association in childhood appears robust for both mothers and fathers. In adolescence, the findings suggest that maternal anxiety may be more influential than paternal anxiety. LIMITATIONS As the methodology of the included studies was heterogenous, and the timing of assessment varied across the papers, drawing concrete conclusions from the existing research is somewhat impaired. CONCLUSIONS Both mothers' and fathers' anxiety have the propensity to negatively impact on their child's development. Implementing preventative interventions, which include both parents, as well as systemic interventions, which include the whole family, are essential in stemming the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems within families.
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Hare MM, Feeney KE, Parent J. Longitudinal Pathways from Parent Internalizing Symptoms to Parent and Youth Emotion Functioning. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022:10.1007/s10578-022-01482-w. [PMID: 36571648 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01482-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The current study utilized mediation analyses to examine how parental symptoms of depression and anxiety impact child emotion regulation (ER) and emotion stability (ES) through parent emotion functioning, parenting, and the coparent relationship. 564 parents of children between 3 and 17 years (Mage = 9.47; 54.4% male) were recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk across three time points: baseline (Wave 1), 4 months (Wave 2), 8 months (Wave 3). Mediation results demonstrated that symptoms of parent depression at Wave 1 predicted worse coparent relationships and decreases in parents' ability to identify their own emotions at Wave 2. Symptoms of parental anxiety at Wave 1 predicted decreases in positive parenting and an increased tendency to have negative secondary emotional responses, impulse-control difficulties, and difficulty accessing emotion-regulation strategies at Wave 2. Additionally, symptoms of parental anxiety at Wave 1 directly predicted lower child ER and ES at Wave 3. However, no significant indirect pathways were identified between parent symptoms and child ER and ES. Sensitivity analyses examined the effects of three youth developmental stages (i.e., early and middle childhood and adolescence), as well as parent gender (i.e., mother and father), and found no significant differences across groups. Thus, even at non-clinical levels, parental symptoms of anxiety and depression may negatively impact parenting, parent regulation, and the coparent relationship, while parental anxiety symptoms may contribute to lower child ER and ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Hare
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Kathleen E Feeney
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Justin Parent
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
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Quagliato LA, de Matos UMA, Nardi AE. Lifetime psychopathology in the offspring of parents with anxiety disorders: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:618-626. [PMID: 36174782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The offspring of parents with Anxiety Disorders (AD) are at high risk for different types of psychopathology, including AD. However, little is known about how parental anxiety during pregnancy and/or the postnatal period might result in alterations in behavior or neurodevelopmental changes in offspring. To examine the effect of parental AD on offspring behavior and neurodevelopment, we conducted a systematic review. METHODS Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched the Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases. RESULTS Forty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Prenatal maternal anxiety is related to negative temperament, increased attention to fearful vocalizations, decreased alertness, and impaired psychomotor and cognitive development in early and middle childhood. AD during the postnatal period is associated with greater negative temperament, internalizing symptoms, and anxiety symptoms in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. CONCLUSION Our review is the first to demonstrate that prenatal and postnatal AD symptoms impact offspring. Future research should explore the mediating and moderating factors leading to the development of psychopathology in the offspring of parents with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laiana A Quagliato
- Laboratory of Panic & Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Voluntários da Pátria 190 s. 722, 22270-010, Brazil.
| | - Ursula M A de Matos
- Laboratory of Panic & Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Voluntários da Pátria 190 s. 722, 22270-010, Brazil
| | - Antonio E Nardi
- Laboratory of Panic & Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Voluntários da Pátria 190 s. 722, 22270-010, Brazil
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Kiel EJ, Aaron EM, Risley SM, Luebbe AM. Transactional relations between maternal anxiety and toddler anxiety risk through toddler-solicited comforting behavior. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38:1267-1278. [PMID: 34157158 PMCID: PMC9210828 DOI: 10.1002/da.23185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transactional developmental and anxiety theories suggest that mothers and toddlers may influence each other's anxiety development across early childhood. Further, toddlers' successful solicitations of comfort during uncertain, yet manageable, situations, may be a behavioral mechanism by which mothers and toddlers impact each other over time. To test these ideas, the current study employed a longitudinal design to investigate bidirectional relations between maternal anxiety and toddler anxiety risk (observed inhibited temperament and mother-perceived anxiety, analyzed separately), through the mediating role of toddler-solicited maternal comforting behavior, across toddlerhood. METHODS Mothers (n = 174; 93.6% European American) and their toddlers (42.4% female; 83.7% European American) participated in laboratory assessments at child ages 1, 2, and 3 years. Mothers self-reported anxiety symptoms. Toddler anxiety risk was observed in the laboratory as inhibited temperament and reported by mothers. Solicited comforting interactions were observed across standardized laboratory tasks. RESULTS Direct and indirect bidirectional effects were tested simultaneously in two longitudinal path models. Toddler anxiety risk, but not maternal anxiety, predicted solicited comforting behavior, and solicited comforting behavior predicted maternal anxiety. No convincing evidence for parent-directed effects on toddler anxiety risk emerged. CONCLUSION Results support continued emphasis on child-elicited effects in child and parent anxiety development in early childhood.
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Yu Y. Factors contributing to coparenting quality: characteristics at the individual level and the relational level. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2021; 28:1115-1125. [PMID: 34693855 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2021.1995885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore how characteristics of parents at the individual level (i.e. anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience) and the relational level (i.e. family functioning) are associated with their coparenting quality in Chinese context. A total of 432 parents whose first child aged 1-18 were recruited to complete online self-measures of anxiety, depression, psychological resilience, family functioning, and coparenting quality. The findings indicated that parents with more anxiety and depression tended to have worse resilience and family functioning, as well as poorer coparenting quality. There were strong correlations between resilience, family functioning, and coparenting quality. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and family functioning partially mediated the link between anxiety and coparenting and fully mediated the link between depression and coparenting. Moreover, family functioning fully carried the impact of resilience on coparenting. These results extended our understanding by demonstrating that resilience and family functioning serve as mediators between negative emotions and coparenting quality. The significant implications for parental practice and research were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongju Yu
- Department of Social Work, School of International Law and Sociology, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
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9
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Yu Y, Xiao Y. Coparenting Alleviated the Effect of Psychological Distress on Parental Psychological Flexibility. Front Psychol 2021; 12:646380. [PMID: 34335362 PMCID: PMC8322113 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.646380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Parenting is full of challenges and responsibilities. It is particularly important for parents to be open to parental difficult experiences and adopt behaviors consistent with self-chosen values, which termed as parental psychological flexibility (PPF). However, few studies have focused on the effect of psychological distress (anxiety and depression) on different components of PPF. This study examined the effect of psychological distress on the three components of PPF (cognitive defusion, committed action, and acceptance) as well as the role of coparenting quality in Chinese parents. A total of 462 parents of children aged 1–18 years completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, coparenting, and PPF. Our results revealed that higher level of PPF went along with less anxiety and depression, while it was also associated with better coparenting quality. Coparenting partially mediated the effect of anxiety on cognitive defusion and acceptance and fully mediated the effect of depression on cognitive defusion and acceptance. Moderation analyses showed that the link between anxiety and cognitive defusion, as well as the link between anxiety and acceptance were moderated by coparenting. We discussed the implications of coparenting as a protective factor in alleviating the negative effect of psychological distress on PPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongju Yu
- Department of Social Work, School of Sociology and Law, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Xiao
- Department of Social Work, School of Sociology and Law, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
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Roth TS, Samara I, Tan J, Prochazkova E, Kret ME. A comparative framework of inter-individual coordination and pair-bonding. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Liu L, Li S, Zheng Y, Wang M. Intergenerational transmission of anxiety in Chinese migrant families: The mediating role of parents' perceptions of coparenting. J Affect Disord 2021; 280:287-294. [PMID: 33221714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that anxiety transmits across generations. However, little is known about the intergenerational transmission of anxiety in Chinese migrant families and the potential mediators of the intergenerational transmission. Therefore, this study investigated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both fathers and mothers to children in Chinese migrant families and the mediating role of both mothers' and fathers' perceptions of coparenting. METHODS Participants were 477 elementary school-age children and both their parents in Chinese migrant families. Mothers and fathers self-reported their anxiety and perceptions of coparenting. Children's anxiety was measured based on maternal report and paternal report. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the mediating role of both mothers' and fathers' perceptions of coparenting in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. RESULTS Anxiety was transmitted across generations from both fathers and mothers to migrant children, and fathers' (but not mothers') perceptions of coparenting mediated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both fathers and mothers to migrant children. LIMITATIONS Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design. CONCLUSIONS Coparenting seemed to play an important role in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. Interventions preventing the intergenerational transmission of anxiety should designate relevant effort enhancing fathers' perceptions of coparenting by changing fathers' negative perceptions and evaluations of the coparenting relationship and increasing mothers' high-quality coparenting behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Sen Li
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Jinan Tianqiao Luoxin Primary School, Jinan, China
| | - Meifang Wang
- Research Center for Child Development, College of Elementary Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
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12
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Spry EA, Aarsman SR, Youssef GJ, Patton GC, Macdonald JA, Sanson A, Thomson K, Hutchinson DM, Letcher P, Olsson CA. Maternal and paternal depression and anxiety and offspring infant negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2020.100934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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13
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Li X, Zhou S, Guo Y. Bidirectional Longitudinal Relations Between Parent-Grandparent Co-parenting Relationships and Chinese Children's Effortful Control During Early Childhood. Front Psychol 2020; 11:152. [PMID: 32158410 PMCID: PMC7052294 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parent-grandparent co-parenting has become a common mode in Chinese families; however, its correlation with children's development in the long run remains unclear. Herein, a 10-month follow-up survey was conducted among 253 preschool children and their parents from Chinese parent-grandparent co-parenting families. It aimed to examine the bidirectional longitudinal correlation of children's effortful control with mother-grandparent and father-grandparent co-parenting relationships, as well as the dissimilarity of the two co-parenting relationships. In addition, the moderating role of maternal parenting self-efficacy in these relationships was also investigated. A cross-lagged model showed that the (1) mother-grandparent co-parenting relationship (T1) positively predicted the father-grandparent co-parenting relationship (T2), (2) dissimilarity of the mother-grandparent and father-grandparent co-parenting relationships (T1) negatively predicted children's effortful control (T2), and (3) maternal parenting self-efficacy significantly moderated the predictive effect of children's effortful control on a father-grandparent co-parenting relationship. However, a further simple slope analysis showed that after controlling the father-grandparent co-parenting relationship (T1), the children's effortful control (T1) did not significantly predict the father-grandparent co-parenting relationship (T2) either in the high or low maternal parenting self-efficacy group. These results indicated that in Chinese parent-grandparent co-parenting families, the father-grandparent co-parenting relationship was influenced by the mother-grandparent co-parenting relationship, and similar mother-grandparent and father-grandparent co-parenting relationships were conducive to the development of the children's effortful control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Li
- Institute of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Zhou
- Institute of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanfang Guo
- Institute of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Metz M, Colonnesi C, Majdandžić M, Bögels SM. When Father Steps Forward and Mother Steps Back: The Moderating Role of Simultaneity in Parents' Coparenting Behaviors in the Development of Anxiety in 4- to 30-Month-Olds. INFANCY 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/infa.12199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marijke Metz
- Research Priority Area Yield; University of Amsterdam; The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Susan M. Bögels
- Research Priority Area Yield; University of Amsterdam; The Netherlands
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