Faculty Bibliography

This study explored the factor structure and developmental trajectory of effortful control (EC), its relations with child adjustment, and the moderating role of age and gender in 75 4- to 6-year-old children at risk for psychopathology. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed two subcomponents of effortful control: Suppress/Initiate (the ability to inhibit a dominant response while initiating a new response) and Motor Control (inhibiting fine and gross motor activity). EC performance improved with age, and both subcomponents were associated with greater social competence at all ages. Associations with internalizing problems were moderated by child age such that greater EC was linked to fewer problems at age 4 but did not relate to problems at ages 5 or 6

We examined mother-child (M-C) conflict behavior during the toddler years. The nature of M-C conflict behaviors, whether conflict behavior differed by context, and factors that were associated with conflict interactions were examined. We used data collected as part of the National Evaluation of the Healthy Steps for Young Children Program. 378 M-C dyads participated in this study. Videotaped observational data at 16-18 months were used to code conflict behaviors using an event recording method. Results showed that M-C conflict were more likely to be initiated by the mothers and that conflict interactions were influenced by context of interaction, family, maternal, and child temperamental factors. In this study, we provide a foundation for understanding parent-child conflict interaction prior to age two. (journal abstract)

This study examined the relationship between early maternal knowledge of child development and later quality of parenting behaviors. Differences by race/ethnic group were also examined. Mother-infant dyads (N = 378) participated in the study. Mothers completed the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory (KIDI) when the infant was 2-4 months, and mother-toddler dyads were videotaped in their homes at 16-18 months. The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (HOME), Parent/Caregiver Involvement Scale (P/CIS), and Nursing Child Assessment by Satellite Training (NCAST) were used to measure quality of mother-toddler interaction. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses was conducted controlling for confounding demographic variables. Results revealed no significant main effect of maternal correct estimation of child development on quality of parenting, but there was a significant main effect of maternal underestimation of child development on quality of parenting during a teaching task. There was also a significant interaction of maternal knowledge and race in relation to quality of parenting behavior. Implications for generalizability and interventions are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

We examined the relation of the relatively new parent-to-infant Postnatal Attachment Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Attachment Q-Set (AQS) in mothers and fathers of 12-month-old infants. The PAQ represents the affective component and the AQS the behavioural component of caregiver - infant attachment. The PAQ has to do with the feelings of the parents towards the infant, whereas the AQS is concerned with the infant's and parents' behaviour vis-a-vis each other. Fifty-nine mothers and 38 fathers of 59 infants ( 31 girls, 28 boys) completed the PAQ and the AQS when their infants were between the ages of 11 and 15 months. The results of multiple regression analyses indicate that the PAQ of both mothers and fathers, as a whole, is significantly related to the AQS. Also, interaction effects revealed that, for fathers of daughters, the relation between the PAQ and the AQS is positive, such that more pleasure in interacting was associated with more secure attachments; whereas for fathers of sons, the relation between the AQS and the absence of hostility PAQ subscale is significant and positive, with less hostility relating to more secure attachments. These findings lend support for the notion that parental feelings are one important correlate of infant secure-base behaviour

The Healthy Steps for Young Children Program (HS) is designed to provide support for new parents through the pediatrician's office. We present findings of the effect of HS on the quality of mother-child interaction, security of attachment, and child behaviour using observational data from two of the HS sites that utilized a randomized treatment design. Results indicated that mothers participating in Healthy Steps were more likely to interact sensitively and appropriately than mothers in the comparison group at the second assessment point (age 34-37 months) but not at the first assessment point (age 16-18 months). There were no differences in child outcomes at either time point when the cross-sectional data were analyzed. However, the results of the longitudinal analysis (which included families who participated in the home observations at both Time 1 and Time 2) indicated that Healthy Steps participation was associated with greater security of attachment and fewer child behaviour problems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The Healthy Steps Initiative is a national demonstration project to provide support for parents of young children through the pediatrician's office. We report data from 432 families who were visited in their homes when the target child was between the ages of 16 and 18 months (Time 1), and 34 and 37 months (Time 2). Parents reported on their discipline strategies for the month prior to the interview. The program showed significant effects in increasing inductive/authoritative forms of discipline when the target child was a toddler. By the time of the pre-school-age assessment, the effect of Healthy Steps participation on the use of inductive/authoritative discipline strategies was moderated by maternal race/ethnicity. White mothers who participated in Healthy Steps reported higher use of inductive/authoritative discipline strategies than white mothers who were in the control group, whereas black mothers and Hispanic mothers reported lower use of inductive/authoritative discipline than their control group counterparts. We also found that treatment effects were moderated by birth order as well as family socioeconomic status. By the time the children were pre-school-age, the effects of Healthy Steps on the use of inductive/authoritative discipline were more dramatic for families living near or below poverty than for families in more secure economic circumstances. For the families with first born children, Healthy Steps participation was associated with lower use of inductive/authoritative discipline at preschool age, with an inverse association seen for families of later born children. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved