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The influence of maternal stress and distress on disruptive behavior problems in boys

Tammy D Barry1, Sarah T Dunlap, Sarah J Cotten

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, 39406, USA. tammy.barry@usm.edu

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Maternal stress and distress are linked to child disruptive behaviors, particularly when reported by mothers. Low socioeconomic status also plays a significant role in these behavioral issues.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Child disruptive behaviors are a significant concern for parents and educators.
  • Maternal mental health, including stress and distress, may influence child behavior.
  • Socioeconomic status (SES) is a known correlate of various child and parent outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal self-reported stress and distress and child disruptive behaviors.
  • To examine the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in this relationship.
  • To differentiate between mother and teacher reports of child behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from 215 boys aged 9-12 years.
  • Mothers provided self-reports on SES, parenting stress, depression, and anxiety/somatization.
  • Mother and teacher ratings assessed child disruptive behaviors (attention problems, aggression, delinquency).

Main Results:

  • Low SES was associated with both mother- and teacher-reported disruptive behaviors.
  • Parenting stress predicted mother-reported disruptive behaviors, independent of SES.
  • Maternal distress significantly predicted mother-reported attention problems, controlling for SES and parenting stress.
  • Maternal stress and distress were not linked to teacher-reported child behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal stress and distress may contribute to child disruptive behaviors, particularly within the home environment.
  • The findings suggest a potential reciprocal relationship between maternal mental health and child behavior problems.
  • Discrepancies in mother versus teacher reports highlight the complexity of assessing child behavior and maternal influence.
Abstract

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