Externalizing behaviors of Ukrainian children: The role of parenting

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of positive and negative parenting with child externalizing problems. Quantitative data were collected during face-to-face interviews with 320 parents of children 9–16 years of age (50% males) in 11 communities in Eastern, Southern and Central Ukraine. The study estimated the relationship between parenting practices and child externalizing behaviors, such as aggression, delinquency and attention problems. Results revealed that positive parenting, child monitoring, and avoidance of corporal punishment were associated with fewer child externalizing symptoms. Results also indicated that child male gender and single parenting had significant and positive association with child externalizing behaviors. This study extends international psychosocial knowledge on children and families. These findings can be used to design programs and foster dialogues about the role of family and social environments in the development of externalizing disorder among researchers, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations and mass media that work with child abuse prevention in Ukraine.

Family factors and parenting in Ukraine

“…However, very little is known about parenting in Ukraine. In a recent study, the risk for externalizing behaviors was higher for Ukrainian children if their parents did not use positive parenting, were not providing adequate monitoring and relied on corporal punishment (Burlaka, 2016). This study aims to extend understanding of parenting in Ukraine by testing the association of parent- and family-level factors with two clusters of parenting behaviors: (1) parenting practices associated with optimal development and socialization of the child (positive parenting); and (2) parenting practices associated with inconsistent discipline and increased risk for child abuse and neglect (negative parenting).…”

“…Additionally, parental involvement with the child’s daily activities, such as attending parent-teacher conferences and attending extracurricular activities, is related with children’s higher academic achievement (Spera, 2005; Stright & Yeo, 2014). Even for high-risk families, effective parenting is a key component that can mediate and moderate the impact of adversity on child behavior outcomes and help raise resilient children (Burlaka, 2016, 2017; Masten, 2001). …”

“…Neglectful parents fail to provide proper care, do not encourage school attendance, provide very little supervision, fail to establish norms or provide emotional and practical support to their children. Lack of child monitoring increases the risk of conduct problems, rule breaking and aggression (Burlaka, 2016; Pettit, Laird, Dodge, Bates, & Criss, 2001; Snyder, Schrepferman, Bullard, McEachern, & Patterson, 2012). Additionally, the use of physical punishment as a logical consequence of misbehavior can result in physical child abuse, the “nonaccidental injury inflicted on a child” (Crosson-Tower, 2013, p. 180).…”

“…Additionally, the use of physical punishment as a logical consequence of misbehavior can result in physical child abuse, the “nonaccidental injury inflicted on a child” (Crosson-Tower, 2013, p. 180). The corporal punishment is also linked with increased externalizing psychopathology in Ukraine and globally (Burlaka, 2016; Gershoff, 2002, 2010, 2013; Ma, Han, Grogan-Kaylor, Delva, & Castillo, 2012). The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged member States to address “any level of legalized violence against children” (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2007, p. 6).…”

“…Although Ukraine has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 2015), its implementation has not been very successful. In a recent study, 75% of Ukrainian parents reported spanking, slapping and hitting children with objects (Burlaka, 2016). …”