Examination of negative maternal regard for child and its association with parenting behaviors and child problem behaviors

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: This study explored the validity of Negative Maternal Regard and its association with problematic parenting and child longitudinal problem behaviors in a community sample of 585 mother-child dyads. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to examine the latent connection between the parental psychological operations of negative maternal attitude, negative maternal affect, and negative maternal attributions. Negative Maternal Regard was assessed prior to children's kindergarten year and then its association with problematic parenting behaviors (harsh parenting and limited supportive parenting) and longitudinal child problem behaviors (child internalizing and externalizing behaviors) was investigated. Regression analysis was used to examine whether harsh parenting and supportive behaviors mediated the association between Negative Maternal Regard and longitudinal child internalizing and externalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades.

Findings and Conclusions: EFA results indicated the validity of the Negative Maternal Regard construct by showing a significant latent connection among parental psychological operations of maternal negative attributions, affect, and attitude. Further analysis showed Negative Maternal Regard was significantly related to low levels of supportive parenting behaviors and high levels of harsh parenting behavior, and longitudinal child internalizing and externalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades. Limited supportive parenting and harsh parenting were also found to significantly predict longitudinal child internalizing and externalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades. Furthermore, a series of regression models showed problematic parenting behaviors (low levels of supportive parenting and high levels of harsh parenting) significantly mediated Negative Maternal Regards effect on longitudinal child externalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades. In contrast, problematic parenting behaviors (low levels of supportive parenting and high levels of harsh parenting) only partially mediated Negative Maternal Regards effect on longitudinal child internalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades. As a result, Negative Maternal Regard continued to have a direct effect on child internalizing behaviors across first, second, and third grades even when controlling for problematic parenting behaviors.