Among 11-28% of children (0-6 years) in the Netherlands experience psychosocial problems, such as aggressive behavior and anxiety symptoms. These behavioral problems in childhood are a predictor...Show moreAmong 11-28% of children (0-6 years) in the Netherlands experience psychosocial problems, such as aggressive behavior and anxiety symptoms. These behavioral problems in childhood are a predictor for several problems in later adolescence and adulthood. Studies that examine the underlying mechanisms that play a role in the development of problem behavior can contribute to the development of adequate and effective (preventive) interventions, so that early intervention can be applied. The current study examined the role of physical discipline, ethnicity and attachment in the development of problem behavior in children aged 0-7 years in family residential clinics. The sample consisted of 50 parent-child dyads (Mage children = 3,28 years) recruited in four Dutch family residential clinics. The families had been referred to these clinics for an evaluation of their parenting capacities in the context of a decision regarding out-of-home placement or reunification with their child(ren). The pre-test consisted of a two-hour appointment in a lab setting at the clinic. During this appointment a number of questionnaires and tasks were administered to parent and child. In addition, the family’s therapist filled out a short questionnaire about the family. Physical discipline was observed during a “don’t touch” and “clean up” task and then scored on a 5-point Likert-scale. The preschool Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to assess child’s behavioral problems. Child’s attachment was measured using the Infant Coding System (ICS) and the MacArthur Preschool Attachment Classification System (PACS). The results showed that physical discipline is not related to child’s problem behavior and that ethnicity does not moderate this association. In addition, the results showed that child’s attachment does not play a mediating role in the association between physical discipline and child’s problem behavior. Future research will benefit from the use of multi-informant measures and should include more ethnicities.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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The use of harsh caregiving behaviour is related to a range of negative outcomes on the development of children. Therefore, it is important to get a more thorough understanding of the determinants...Show moreThe use of harsh caregiving behaviour is related to a range of negative outcomes on the development of children. Therefore, it is important to get a more thorough understanding of the determinants of such caregiving behaviours. Researchers have consistently found an association between high levels of environmental chaos in the household and negative parenting behaviours. However, this relation has never been investigated in an experimental setting before so no causal inferences could be made. Therefore, the present study used an experimental within-subjects design to investigate whether (observed) harsh caregiving behaviour is predicted by an (experimentally manipulated) chaotic home environment. In addition, self-regulatory skills, measured with a delay discounting task and a Go/Nogo task, were examined as a potential moderator in this relation. A total of 96 women aged between 18 and 25 years participated in the two lab-visits. The laboratory (furnished like a living room) was calm and organized in the neutral condition, and chaotic and unorganized in the chaos condition. Contrary to what was hypothesized, results of the multilevel analysis showed no causal relation between chaos and harsh caregiving in the present study. Also, no moderating effect of self-regulatory skills on the relation between environmental chaos and harsh caregiving behaviours was found. Possible explanations for not finding the expected results and directions for future research are addressed in the discussion.Show less
