Autonomic functioning moderates the relations between contextual factors and externalizing behaviors among inner-city children.

Full Abstract

Although previous research has identified various child-specific and contextual risk factors associated with externalizing behaviors, there is a dearth of literature examining child x context interactions in the prospective prediction of externalizing behaviors. To address this gap, we examined autonomic functioning as a moderator of the relation between contextual factors (i.e., neighborhood cohesion and harsh parental behaviors) and externalizing behaviors. Participants were an ethnic minority, inner-city sample of first through fourth grade children (N = 57, 50% male) and their primary caregivers who participated in two assessments approximately 1 year apart. Results indicated that baseline sympathetic functioning moderated the relation between (a) neighborhood cohesion and externalizing behaviors and (b) harsh parental behaviors and externalizing behaviors. Post-hoc probing of these interactions revealed that higher levels of neighborhood cohesion prospectively predicted (a) higher levels of externalizing behaviors among children with heightened baseline sympathetic functioning, and (b) lower levels of externalizing behaviors among children with attenuated baseline sympathetic functioning. In addition, among children with heightened baseline sympathetic functioning, higher levels of harsh parental behaviors prospectively predicted higher levels of externalizing behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Author information

Author/s: Bubier, Jennifer L (JL); Drabick, Deborah A G (DA); Breiner, Tyler (T);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. Jbubier(-atsign-)temple.edu

Grants: 1K01 MH 073717-01A2 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; K01 MH073717-01A2 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; K01 MH073717-02 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43) (J Fam Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 23 (issue 4) : pp 500-10

Dates: Created 2009/08/18; Completed 2009/10/13; Revised 2009/10/29;

PMID: 19685985, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/30/2009, IMS Date: )

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