Temperament and parenting during the first year of life predict future child conduct problems

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Benjamin B. Lahey, University of Chicago; Carol A. Van Hulle, University of Chicago; Kate Keenan, University of Chicago; Paul J. Rathouz, University of Chicago; Brian M. D'Onofrio, Indiana University; Joseph Lee Rodgers, University of Oklahoma; Irwin Waldman, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-11-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-008-9247-3
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
• ISSN: 0091-0627
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 1139
• End Page: 1158
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by grant R01 MH070025.
• Keywords: Parenting; Child; Conduct Disorder; Predictive Value of Tests; Mass Screening; Observer Variation; Young Adult; Prospective Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Female; Infant; Temperament; Surveys and Questionnaires; Child, Preschool; Humans; Adolescent; Male
• Research Categories: Psychology, Developmental

Abstract

Predictive associations between parenting and temperament during the first year of life and child conduct problems were assessed longitudinally in 1,863 offspring of a representative sample of women. Maternal ratings of infant fussiness, activity level, predictability, and positive affect each independently predicted maternal ratings of conduct problems during ages 4-13 years. Furthermore, a significant interaction indicated that infants who were both low in fussiness and high in predictability were at very low risk for future conduct problems. Fussiness was a stronger predictor of conduct problems in boys whereas fearfulness was a stronger predictor in girls. Conduct problems also were robustly predicted by low levels of early mother-report cognitive stimulation when infant temperament was controlled. Interviewer-rated maternal responsiveness was a robust predictor of conduct problems, but only among infants low in fearfulness. Spanking during infancy predicted slightly more severe conduct problems, but the prediction was moderated by infant fussiness and positive affect. Thus, individual differences in risk for mother-rated conduct problems across childhood are already partly evident in maternal ratings of temperament during the first year of life and are predicted by early parenting and parenting-by-temperament interactions.