Indirect effects of intrusive parenting on externalizing behaviors in socioeconomically disadvantaged children: A parallel mediation analysis

Although emerging research has identified intrusive parenting as a crucial risk factor for childhood externalizing behaviors, the mechanisms that underlie this relation warrant further investigation. Hence, the present study examined common executive functioning (EF) and expressive verbal abilities...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cognitive development 2024-10, Vol.72, p.101516, Article 101516
Main Authors: Tng, Germaine Y.Q., Yang, Hwajin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Conduct problems
Executive functioning
Expressive verbal abilities
Hyperactivity
Inattention
Intrusive parenting
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Summary:Although emerging research has identified intrusive parenting as a crucial risk factor for childhood externalizing behaviors, the mechanisms that underlie this relation warrant further investigation. Hence, the present study examined common executive functioning (EF) and expressive verbal abilities as parallel mediators in the associations between intrusive parenting and externalizing behaviors (i.e., hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problems) in preschool-aged children from low-income families. Data from the Family Life Project (N = 1050, Mage = 3 years 2 months) was analyzed using structural equation modelling. We found that common EF and expressive verbal abilities separately mediated the respective pathways from intrusive parenting to preschool-aged children’s hyperactivity/inattention problems and conduct problems. These findings held when key covariates-age, gender, household income, ethnicity, and state of residence—were controlled for. Notably, our findings provide evidence of potentially differing processes that explain the link between intrusive parenting and separable aspects of externalizing behaviors in young children from disadvantaged families. •We examined mechanisms behind intrusive parenting and externalizing behaviors (EB)•Common EF mediated the link between intrusive parenting and hyperactivity/inattention problems•Verbal skills mediated the link between intrusive parenting and conduct problems•These mediational pathways were found in preschool children from low-income families•Different processes explain the link between intrusive parenting and separable aspects of EB
ISSN:0885-2014
DOI:10.1016/j.cogdev.2024.101516