Family instability, parenting, and child externalizing problems: Moderation by maternal sympathetic stress reactivity.

ABSTRACT: This multi-method longitudinal study evaluated how changes in maternal sensitive parenting may operate as an indirect factor linking family instability and the development of child externalizing problems over time. This study also investigated how mothers' stress reactivity within the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) may moderate the association between family instability and the development of maternal sensitivity. Participants were 235 families with a young child (M_age = 2.97 years at the first measurement occasion) and these families were followed for two annual measurement occasions. Maternal sensitivity was observed during two discipline tasks (i.e., forbidden toy, discipline discussion tasks), and maternal SNS stress reactivity was indicated by their salivary alpha-amylase

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9845429 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature