Predicting change in parenting stress across early childhood: child and maternal factors

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2007 Apr;35(2):251-63. doi: 10.1007/s10802-006-9082-3. Epub 2006 Dec 21.

Abstract

This study examined maternal parenting stress in a sample of 430 boys and girls including those at risk for externalizing behavior problems. Children and their mothers were assessed when the children were ages 2, 4, and 5. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to examine stability of parenting stress across early childhood and to examine child and maternal factors predicting parenting stress at age 2 and changes in parenting stress across time. Results indicated that single parenthood, maternal psychopathology, child anger proneness, and child emotion dysregulation predicted 2-year parenting stress. Child externalizing behaviors predicted initial status and changes across time in parenting stress. Stability of parenting stress was dependent upon child externalizing problems, as well as interactions between child externalizing problems and gender, and child externalizing problems and emotion regulation. Results are discussed in the context of mechanisms by which parenting stress may influence the development of child externalizing behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anger
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Single Parent / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Temperament