Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

Family Functioning and Externalizing Behaviour among Low-income Children: Self-regulation as a Mediator

Cecily R Hardaway1, Melvin N Wilson, Daniel S Shaw

  • 1University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Infant and Child Development
|August 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Home chaos and positive behavior support influence children's self-regulation, specifically inhibitory control. This self-regulation then impacts externalizing behaviors in low-income children over time.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Family functioning significantly impacts child behavioral development.
  • Self-regulation, particularly inhibitory control, is crucial for managing externalizing behaviors.
  • Understanding mediating factors is key for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate self-regulation as a mediator between family functioning and externalizing behavior in low-income children.
  • To examine the indirect effects of home chaos and positive behavior support on externalizing problems.
  • To assess the role of inhibitory control in these relationships across development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 731 low-income children across three time points.
  • Assessment of family functioning (home chaos, positive behavior support) at age 3 years.
  • Measurement of children's inhibitory control at age 4 years and externalizing behavior at age 5.5 years.

Main Results:

  • Home chaos at age 3 indirectly predicted externalizing behavior at age 5.5 via inhibitory control at age 4.
  • Positive behavior support at age 3 indirectly predicted externalizing behavior at age 5.5 via inhibitory control at age 4.
  • Inhibitory control emerged as a significant mediator in both pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Early family environment, including chaos and support, influences children's self-regulation.
  • Enhanced inhibitory control may buffer the negative effects of adverse family environments on externalizing behaviors.
  • Findings highlight the importance of targeting self-regulation skills in interventions for at-risk children.

More Related Videos

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children07:01

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings01:29

Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings

Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or inconsistent. For...
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience01:18

Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience

Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other01:20

Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.