Associations between multilevel family factors and school-age children's ODD symptoms: A developmental cascade model

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is prevalent in school-age children and closely linked to family environments. Yet few studies have systematically examined how multilevel family factors interrelate and associate with ODD symptoms. This three-wave longitudinal study investigated associations between entire-level (family socioeconomic status, (SES)), dyadic-level (mother-child conflict), individual-level factors (maternal anger expression, child self-control), and ODD symptoms among 785 Chinese school-age children (34.5% boys). Results revealed cascading pathways: lower socioeconomic status predicted higher mother-child conflict, greater maternal anger expression, and poorer child self-control, contributing to increased ODD symptoms. Furthermore, bidirectional associations were identified between child self-control and ODD symptoms. These results elucidated the multifaceted cascading pathways from multilevel family factors to ODD symptoms, highlighting the importance of integrated family-based interventions. Meanwhile, it is suggested that child individual factors are most proximally associated with ODD symptoms, indicating that child factors, such as child self-regulation, are potentially effective targets for intervention and prevention. Integrating these findings, we proposed the potential conceptualization of a Reciprocal Cascade System for the relationship between multilevel family factors and ODD.