Parental Arrest and Child Behavior: Differential Role of Executive Functioning among Racial Subgroups
Elizabeth I Johnson1, Elizabeth M Planalp2, Julie Poehlmann-Tynan2
1Department of Child & Family Studies, University of Tennessee, 1215 W. Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
Journal of Child and Family Studies
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Parental arrest is linked to increased child behavior problems, especially when a mother is arrested. Executive functioning (EF) benefits children differently based on race, with potential constraints for Black children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Sociology
Background:
- Parental arrest is a significant adverse childhood experience.
- Executive functioning (EF) is crucial for adaptive behavior.
- Racial disparities in child well-being warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between parental arrest, child executive functioning (EF), and problem behaviors.
- To investigate how these relationships differ by child race and the gender of the arrested parent.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (N=11,875).
- Regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic risk factors.
- Disaggregated analyses by child race (White and Black).
Main Results:
- Parental arrest was associated with increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
- Maternal arrest showed a stronger association with problem behaviors than paternal arrest.
- EF's protective role varied by race: beneficial for White children, but with constraints for Black children, particularly for internalizing behaviors during parental arrest.
Conclusions:
- Parental arrest has adverse implications for child well-being.
- The benefits of high executive functioning may be limited for Black children due to racial stratification.
- Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive interventions and further research into racial disparities in child development.
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