Paths from Mother-Child and Father-Child Relationships to Externalizing Behavior Problems in Children Differing in Electrodermal Reactivity: a Longitudinal Study from Infancy to Age 10

Abstract

Electrodermal hyporeactivity (or low skin conductance level, SCL) has been long established as a correlate of and diathesis for antisocial behavior, aggression, disregard for rules of conduct and feelings of others, and generally, externalizing behavior problems in children and adults. Much less is known, however, about how individual differences in children’s SCL and qualities of their early experiences in relationships with parents interact to produce antisocial outcomes. In a community sample of 102 families (51 girls), we examined children’s SCL, assessed in standard laboratory tasks at age 8 (N=81), as a moderator of the links between parent–child socialization history and children’s externalizing behavior problems at ages 8 and 10, reported by mothers and fathers in well-established instruments and by children in clinical interviews. Mother- and father-child socialization history was assessed in frequent, intensive observations. Parent–child mutually responsive orientation (MRO) was observed from infancy to age 10, parental power assertion was observed from 15 months to age 6 ½, and children reported their attachment security in interviews at age 8 and 10. For children with lower SCL, variations in mothers’ power assertion and father-child MRO were associated with parent-rated externalizing problems. The former interaction was consistent with diathesis-stress, and the latter with differential susceptibility. For children with higher SCL, there were no links between socialization history and externalizing problems.

Infant Attachment Moderates Paths From Early Negativity to Preadolescent Outcomes for Children and Parents

“…Sroufe, 1991; research by Allen and colleagues, Allen et al, 2003; Hare, Marston, & Allen, 2011). The observed times coded for each parent-child dyad were 81 min at each age (total 162 min for each parent-child dyad; see Kochanska, Brock, Chen, Aksan, & Anderson, 2015, for details).…”

Decline in the Quality of Family Relationships Predicts Escalation in Children’s Internalizing Symptoms from Middle to Late Childhood

“…In addition to the parent’s positive affect with the child, and the child’s positive affect with the parent, we examined a dyadic construct of mutually responsive orientation (MRO) – a cooperative, trusting, supportive, and reciprocal parent–child relationship, infused with positive affectivity (Kochanska 1997). MRO has been well-established as a correlate and a cause of overall adaptive socio-emotional development, particularly a broad range of outcomes reflecting internalization of values, and regard for and compliance with rules of conduct (e.g., Kochanska 2002; Kochanska et al 2014; Kochanska and Kim 2013). The association of MRO with child internalizing disorders, however, has rarely been studied and warrants attention.…”

Physiological reactivity moderates the association between parental directing and young adolescent friendship adjustment.

“…Although a number of studies have shown that child temperamental characteristics (noted above) or physiological responses (e.g., Erath, El-Sheikh, Hinnant, & Cummings, 2011; Kochanska, Brock, Chen, Aksan, & Anderson, in press) moderate associations between forms of parental control and child adjustment, to our knowledge, no published studies have examined whether similar interactive associations are evident in the peer domain specifically. Questionnaire-based measures of child reactivity or regulation have the advantage of capturing responses across a range of times and situations, yet physiological assessments can readily capture responses in specific circumstances, such as conditions of peer-evaluative stress or challenge.…”