Influences Of Early Child Characteristics And Health On Later Parent And Parent-Child Relationship Factors

INFLUENCES OF EARLY CHILD CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTH ON LATERPARENT AND PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP FACTORSbyJENNIFER DEGROOT HANAWALTDecember 2012Advisor: Dr. Ty Partridge Major: Psychology (Clinical)Degree: Doctor of PhilosophyThe aim of this study was to evaluate ways in which infant temperament and healthdifficulties influence maternal characteristics over the first three years and the mother childrelationship. We used longitudinal data from 1364 families, collected as part of the NICHDStudy of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD). Longitudinal growth curve models were employed to evaluate influences of infant temperament and health at 6months on maternal depression, employment, role satisfaction, parenting stress and maritalsatisfaction when the child was 6, 15, 24 and 36 months of age as well as mother childinteractions at 15 months. Measures included the Revised Infant TemperamentQuestionnaire, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and theHome Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory-Infant/Toddler version.Mothers of infants with more difficult temperament and increased health problems at 6months reported increased symptoms of depression, decreased role satisfaction, and lowermarital satisfaction at 6 months. Mothers of infants with more difficult temperaments workedless at 6 months than mothers who rated their infants’ temperaments as less difficult;