Maternal, Paternal, & Child Predictors of Externalizing Behaviors:parental Externalizing, Parenting Behaviors, and Child Self-regulation

Maternal, Paternal, & Child Predictors of Externalizing Behaviors: Parental Externalizing, Parenting Behaviors and Child Self-Regulation Amber Fitzpatrick Predictors for externalizing behavior were investigated in a high-risk sample of males. Parental antisocial histories, parental behaviors and child self-regulation were considered in relation to boys’ externalizing problems during the transition to adolescence. Participants included 201 families (n = 105 with mom only data and n = 96 with dad and mom data). The males were between the ages of 10 and 12 from inner city Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and were part of a larger longitudinal study aimed at identifying risk factors for developing antisocial behavior. Multi-rater questionnaires were used to assess study constructs, along with observational measures of parental behaviors. There was no relationship between parental externalizing histories and subsequent child behaviors. There were significant contributions of parental antagonism and maternal regulatory support, as well as child self regulation and boys’ prior externalizing to their subsequent externalizing problems. Findings confirm that parents’ exacerbation was associated with elevations in children’s behavior problems, while the child’s self-regulatory system was linked to fewer behavior problems. Overall, prior externalizing is the best predictor of future externalizing difficulties above and beyond parenting behaviors and self-regulation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Moilanen, for getting me through this challenging process. Without you this would not have come to fruition. I am grateful for your direction and patience as well as your insight into this study. I also want to extend a thank you to my remaining committee members for their participation, suggestions, and insight they shared with me in this journey. This all would not have been possible without my mother and my partner Tom; a special thanks also goes out to them for supporting my decision to take on this endeavor. And last but not least, the music of Pink Floyd and Bob Marley for their lyrical and rhythmical masterpieces that contributed to the creative atmosphere that helped me create this masterpiece.