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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
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Maternal temperament and parenting practices as predictors of children's behavior problems
Camila Regina Lotto1, Elisa Rachel Pisani Altafim1, Dana Charles McCoy2
1Ribeirão Preto Medical School at University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
|June 17, 2025
Summary
Maternal temperament and positive discipline are key. Low effortful control in mothers and less positive discipline predict children's behavior problems, highlighting the need for emotional regulation and supportive parenting.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Maternal Mental Health
Background:
- Parenting practices and maternal temperament are linked to child behavior problems.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention and support.
- Research in Brazil specifically examining these factors is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal temperament, parenting practices, and children's behavior problems.
- To identify specific maternal temperament traits and parenting styles that predict behavior issues in young children.
- To contribute to the understanding of child behavior development within the Brazilian cultural context.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 50 mothers and their 2-to-6-year-old children in Brazil participated.
- Mothers completed self-report questionnaires assessing temperament (Adult Temperament Questionnaire) and parenting behaviors (ACT scale).
- Children's behavior problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with maternal reports.
Main Results:
- Lower levels of positive discipline were significantly associated with increased child behavior problems.
- Maternal temperament characterized by low effortful control predicted higher total behavior problems in children.
- These factors emerged as significant predictors in a multiple regression analysis.
Conclusions:
- Maternal emotion and behavior regulation are vital for mitigating child behavior problems.
- Positive parenting practices play a protective role, buffering against the development of behavioral issues.
- This study underscores the importance of considering maternal factors in models of child behavior problems in Brazil.
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