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According to the heuristic model of emotion socialization by Eisenberg et al., parental reactions to children's negative emotions (RCNE) have an important role in this socialization process; however, its effects on children's social-emotional outcomes may be moderated by the children's temperament. This longitudinal study verified this proposition by testing maternal and paternal RCNE as predictors of preschoolers' behavioral adjustment and child inhibitory control as a moderator of these associations. Mothers and fathers of 113 Chinese children (M age = 57.41 months, SD = 7.16 months) reported on their RCNE and child inhibitory control at Time 1 (T1) and reported on child behavioral adjustment (i.e., externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and prosocial behaviors) both at T1 and 6 months later (Time 2, T2). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that after controlling for child behavioral adjustment at T1, child age, and paternal education level, (a) paternal supportive reactions negatively predicted child externalizing problems and positively predicted child prosocial behaviors, and (b) the associations between parental RCNE and child behavioral adjustment were moderated by child inhibitory control. Specifically, only for children low on inhibitory control, paternal supportive reactions negatively predicted child externalizing problems, and maternal supportive reactions positively predicted child prosocial behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental burnout is overwhelming exhaustion associated with one's parental role. Numerous studies have explored the antecedents of parental burnout, with a deficient focus on its consequences, especially for children's development. This study investigated the interaction effect between two protective factors (i.e., co-parenting and parental psychological flexibility) of parental burnout on subsequent children's mental health through the mediation effect of parental burnout. A total of 262 Chinese mothers (Mage = 35 years old) raising preschoolers participated in a two-wave survey within 1-month interval. Path analysis confirmed the moderated median model. Specifically, parental psychological flexibility (PPF) moderated the mediating effect of parental burnout between co-parenting and children's internalizing and externalizing problems reported by mothers. For mothers with middle or low PPF, high-quality co-parenting was related to low children's externalizing and internalizing problems via low-level parental burnout. While mothers with high PPF were less likely to develop parental burnout and exert a negative impact on children's externalizing and internalizing problems even in face of low-quality co-parenting. Co-parenting and PPF may compensate for each other as the protective factors of parental burnout in mothers and children's internalizing and externalizing problems in China. Highlights: Parental burnout mediates the link between co-parenting and children's internalizing and externalizing problems. The mediating effect mentioned above is significant for mothers with middle or low level of parental psychological flexibility. Strategies to promote fathers' cooperation in parenting and maternal PPF are both needed in reliving maternal parental burnout and children's problems in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on previous empirical evidences and theoretical framework, sleep problems and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)/suicidal behavior may bidirectionally related to one another. However, this still needs to be examined through longitudinal research. Moreover, the mediating mechanisms accounting for their potential bidirectional relations have yet to be fully investigated. This study thus aimed to evaluate whether sleep problems and NSSI/suicidal behavior promoted each other directly or indirectly through the mediating roles of emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) and externalizing problems. A total of 1648 Chinese adolescents (48.12% boys; Mage = 13.69; SD = 0.82; Age range = 11–16 years old at T1) completed self-report measures on 3-time points across 1 year. Cross-lagged panel models were used to examine the focal longitudinal associations. Results revealed a predictive effect of sleep problems on NSSI and a positive bidirectional relation between sleep problems and suicidal behavior. Moreover, sleep problems exerted an indirect effect on NSSI through ERD, and vice versa. Additionally, both ERD and externalizing problems served as mediators in the pathway from suicidal behavior to sleep problems. This study disentangled the differential mediating roles of ERD and externalizing problems in the longitudinal associations between sleep problems and NSSI/suicidal behavior, which may help provide a more holistic theoretical framework through which to precisely identify key targets for early prevention and intervention of sleep problems and NSSI/suicidal behavior in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant population of Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children has sparked considerable domestic and international concern regarding their disadvantaged family circumstances and their escalating prevalence of internalizing and externalizing problems. Derived from the resource substitution hypothesis, non-cognitive factors such as personality traits may act as "substitution" resources for educational outcomes of children from less privileged families. Yet, the compensatory role of personality traits as substitution resources in children's mental health has received limited attention, including that of migrant children. This study examined the interplay of trait-like grit and family SES on emotional and conduct problems among Chinese migrant and urban children. The current sample consisted of 770 migrant children (Mage = 10.45 and SDage = 0.68 years; 38.4% girls) and their 222 urban counterparts (Mage = 10.34 and SDage = 0.46 years; 45.5% girls). Moderated polynomial regressions with response surface analysis on a two-wave data with an interval of over six months showed that grit served as a "substitution" resource for the less socioeconomically advantaged children. The compensatory effect of perseverance of effort on urban children's emotional problems and that of consistency of interest on migrant children's conduct problems were visualized. Moreover, the two compensatory effects were found to be robust and unique, even after children's effortful control, a grit-related construct, was taken into account. These findings not only support the resource substitution hypothesis, but also underscore the protective role that grit plays in children under less privileged environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has a high prevalence of child maltreatment and a culture accepting of harsh parenting with no consensus regarding its adverse outcomes. The current study seeks to address this issue by synthesising the effects of harsh parenting on the socio‐emotional outcomes of Chinese children and youths through a systematic review of relevant literature. A systematic search was conducted to collect articles published from 1991 to 2021 based on the PRISMA guidelines. This study captured the bivariate relationships between harsh parenting and the socio‐emotional outcomes of children and youths between the ages of 6–17. Forty‐five studies met the inclusion criteria. Three domains of socio‐emotional outcomes, including internalising problems, externalising problems, and social outcomes were identified. Studies consistently reported evidence of the significant association between harsh parenting and various externalising problems. However, mixed results were found regarding the association between harsh parenting and internalising problems. No study examined the physical health outcomes. More research is needed to further clarify the relationship between harsh parenting and internalising problems as well as health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidences on the relationship between gestational weight gain rate (GWGR) and children's cognitive and behavioral development have been limited. A total of 3273 singleton live birth mother-child pairs from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort in China were included in the study. Maternal GWGR was calculated based on the weights measured at multiple antenatal checkups. Children's cognitive and behavioral development were assessed by Chinese version of Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist 1.5–5. Then generalized linear models were performed for analyses. In the field of children's cognitive development, excessive GWGR in the second trimester was associated with increased visual space index (VSI), fluid reasoning index (FRI) and full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores, while excessive GWGR in the third trimester was associated with decreased VSI, working memory index (WMI) and FSIQ scores. In the field of children's behavioral development, excessive GWGR in the second trimester was associated with decreased aggressive behaviors and externalizing problems scores. Children's behavioral development was assessed by main caregivers and might cause a certain degree of bias. There might be other potential confounders that we did not take into account. A high GWGR in the second trimester might be beneficial for children's cognitive and behavioral development, while a high GWGR in the third trimester might be harmful. • GWGR is an accurate indicator to assess maternal weight gain in 2nd, 3rd trimester. • New evidence on the effect of GWGR on children's neurodevelopment has been yielded. • GWGR in different trimesters may impact children's neurodevelopment in different way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the mediating role of children's executive function (EF) in the relation between parental rejection and children's externalizing behavior problems and whether this mediation varies depending on their callous-unemotional (CU) trait levels. Two hundred and eighty-four Chinese school-aged children and their fathers and mothers participated. Both fathers and mothers reported on parental rejection, children's externalizing behavior problems, EF, and CU traits. The results showed that EF mediated the association between parental rejection and externalizing behavior problems. Moreover, the negative link between EF and externalizing behavior problems was moderated by CU traits; in particular, the combination of higher-level CU traits and lower-level EF predicted more externalizing behavior problems. Our findings point to the importance of considering family context and multiple personal factors simultaneously to decrease children's behavior problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-family conflict had an adverse effect on adolescent mental health problems. However, to date, few studies using the longitudinal-design have examined the underlying mechanism of this relationship. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to extend previous study from a longitudinal perspective, and further explore the mediating role of sleep quality that were shown to underlie these relationships. Data came from a longitudinal survey of 932 adolescents (54.0% female; mean of age at baseline = 13.25 years, SD = 0.66). The adolescents were recruited from two junior high school in Guangzhou city, China. A battery of standardized measures was used to assess intra-family conflict, sleep quality, internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms for three times with an interval of one year. After adjusting for family demographics, sleep quality at T1 and mental health problems at T1, T1 intra-family conflict had significant effects on sleep quality at T2, and T2 sleep quality mediated the association between T1 intra-family and mental health problems at T3. In addition, this mediation of sleep quality was consistent across gender. Sleep quality was an important mediator in explaining the relationship between intra-family conflict and mental health problems in adolescents. Prevention and intervention programs aimed at improving their sleep quality may be critical to prevent mental health problems when adolescents are involved in family conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed a moderated mediation model to investigate the relations between social support and Internet addiction in adolescents as well as the mediating effect of negative coping and the moderating effect of cognitive reappraisal. A total of 546 adolescents (205 boys and 241 girls; ages = 12–15 years, M = 13, SD = 0.46) from Mainland China completed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, Self-Report Coping Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Young' s Internet Addiction Scale. Social support significantly, inversely related to Internet addiction in adolescents, and negative coping behavior (e.g., withdrawal, externalizing behavior) played a mediating role in the relation between them. Adolescents' use of cognitive reappraisal strategies moderated the mediating path between social support and negative coping, with the effect being weaker for adolescents more frequently using cognitive reappraisal to regulate their emotions. These findings reveal the necessity of considering social and individual difference factors simultaneously when evaluating risks associated with adolescent Internet addiction and offer implications for the prevention and intervention of adolescent Internet addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left-behind children's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors have become an important public health issue that may affect their well-being and mental health. Interparental conflict, a stronger and cannot be hidden family risk factor, is easily perceived by LBC and further affects LBC's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Moreover, in LBC's families, interparental conflict are more likely to occur due to the poor economic status and the low quality of communication and interaction between parents. However, no research has examined the relationship between perceived interparental conflict and LBC's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Besides, previous research of the association between parents and children's problem behaviors have been largely restricted to the unidirectional effect of parental traits on children. This study aimed to examine the reciprocal relationships between perceived interparental conflict and LBC's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors following a three-wave longitudinal design. A total of 660 LBC (442 boys and 218 girls) aged 8–11 years (Mage = 9.58, SDage = 0.67 at T1) in China completed a battery of questionnaires at three time points. The results indicated that perceived interparental conflicts positively predicted LBC's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. In turn, LBC's internalizing problem behaviors exacerbated the perception of interparental conflicts. Furthermore, perceived interparental conflict mediated the longitudinal relation between LBC's internalizing problem behaviors and externalizing problem behaviors. The findings provide evidence for the accumulating disadvantage for LBC that results from the mutual reinforcement of perceived interparental conflict and problem behaviors over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Externalizing problem behaviors significantly affect adolescent mental health. This study adopted a cross-sectional design based on the multifactor system model of personality and individual differences to explore the relationships between callous–unemotional traits, externalizing problem behaviors, moral disengagement, and emotion awareness. Survey data were collected from 1,080 adolescents in China. The results showed that callous–unemotional traits were significantly and positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors, and that moral disengagement and emotion awareness mediated this relationship. Our findings provide guidance for the intervention in and prevention of externalizing behavior problems among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified sex differences in self-esteem and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Using cross-sectional data from 483 children (67.3% males, all Han Chinese) aged 8.97 to 17.0 years in a rural China's boarding school, this study examined whether parenting styles, teacher support and peer support mediated the effect of sex on self-esteem and problem behaviors and whether the mediation model differed between children left behind by one or both of their migrant parents and children of non-migrant families. The results indicated that peer support suppressed the relations of sex to self-esteem and internalizing problem behaviors. Low peer support mediated the relationship of being boys with more externalizing problem behaviors. The significantly different path between left-behind children and non-left-behind children was based on the association of parental refusal with self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature has well-documented the relation of family socio-economic status (SES) to children's problem behaviors, yet the complex mechanisms underlying the relation are not well understood. Therefore, the primary goal of this one-year longitudinal study was to explore the mediating role of children's sense of coherence and the moderating role of perceived maternal warmth in the association between family SES and externalizing and internalizing problems in Chinese children. The sample consisted of 913 children (493 boys; Mage = 11.50 years, SD = 1.04) in fourth to sixth grades in an urban area in mainland China. Data were obtained from multiple sources, including child self-reports, parental reports, and teacher ratings. The results indicated that children's sense of coherence mediated the association between family SES and internalizing problem behaviors, but not externalizing problem behaviors. This mediating role was also moderated by maternal warmth and specifically, family SES was negatively associated with internalizing problem behaviors via the sense of coherence for children who perceived high maternal warmth. Generally, these results highlighted the possible roles of a sense of coherence and maternal warmth in the longitudinal implications of family SES for Chinese children's internalizing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the prevalence of externalizing problems during adolescence, the present study investigated the main and interactive relationships between environmental-level (teacher autonomy support) and person-level (growth mindset toward personality) factors related to externalizing problems. This study further estimated ethnic variations of these relationships among the majority Han and one ethnic minority group (Hui) in China. Methods: To achieve the research objectives, the study involved 704 Han (Mage = 12.57; 53.7% female) and 642 Hui adolescents (Mage = 12.45; 49.4% female) who completed a suite of research questionnaires. Results: The results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbid internalizing problems, showed that teacher autonomy support was directly and negatively related to externalizing problems. This negative relationship was also moderated by growth mindset toward personality and ethnicity. More specifically, a high growth mindset buffered the undesirable effect of low teacher autonomy support on externalizing problems for Hui adolescents but not Han adolescents. Discussion: The finding from the current research suggests that teacher autonomy support plays a universally beneficial role in youth mental health across two selected ethnic groups. At the same time, identifying the protective role of growth mindset has important practical implications for the design of personalized school-based activities that aim to facilitate adaptive youth behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Findings: This cross-sectional study examined the class- and child-level associations of social-emotional competence with behavioral and academic adjustment among Chinese kindergarten children and tested teacher collectivistic socialization goals as a moderator. Participants were 523 kindergarten children and their mothers and class teachers from Hong Kong, China. The mean age of children was 4.37 years (SD = 0.60), and 53% of them were boys. Using paper-and-pencil questionnaires, class teachers rated children's social-emotional competence and their own socialization goals, and mothers rated children's externalizing behaviors and school readiness and provided demographic information. Also, in structured interviews, children completed a Chinese word reading test. Multilevel models indicated that, controlling for child gender and age, mother age and education, and teacher experience of teaching, the class average of child social-emotional competence – which indicated the overall social-emotional climate of the classroom – was linked negatively to child externalizing behaviors and positively to child school readiness and Chinese word reading ability. Moreover, children who scored higher on social-emotional competence – compared to their own class average (i.e., their everyday companions) – scored lower on externalizing behaviors and higher on school readiness. There was no evidence of the moderating role of teacher socialization goals, however. Practice or Policy: Findings pointed to the utility of using class-wide initiatives to promote the overall classroom climate and using child-specific activities to promote individual social-emotional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent systematic reviews found limited rigorous research conducted to date of the effectiveness of parent training programs in reducing behavioral problems for autistic children in low- and middle-income countries. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a short-term intensive parent training program for autistic children aged three to six in the context of routine service provision in China. A quasi-experiment was conducted involving the local implementing organization and using a waitlist control. Data were collected at baseline and immediate post-intervention. The primary outcome was child behavioral problems measured using the Child Behavior Checklist Externalizing scale. Between-group comparisons used a difference-in-differences design with propensity score weighting to reduce sources of bias. A process evaluation was undertaken in parallel to assess participant involvement, program acceptability, and delivery. The protocol was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04257331). The final sample size was 111 (treatment: 63; comparison: 48). Results suggest that the program was associated with improvements in child externalizing behaviors (b = -2.71, 95% CI [-5.23, -0.18]), parental mental health symptoms (b = -5.96, 95% CI [-11.74, -0.17]), over-reactive parenting (b = -0.63, 95% CI [-0.98, -0.27]), and parental knowledge (b = 2.08, 95% CI [2.07, 2.17]). Exploratory analysis of factors related to implementation indicated that baseline parental mental health was related to participant engagement, and that satisfaction and engagement levels were potentially linked to positive treatment effects. Findings suggest that short-term intensive parent training programs that are provided by trained non-specialists, could potentially be used as an alternative to traditional prohibitively costly services that are delivered intensively for consecutive years in low-resource contexts. Follow-ups are needed to investigate its long-term benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The currents study investigated cross-lagged relationships among mindful parenting, IPB, and EPB. • EPB was negatively associated with mindful parenting but not IPB with a five-month interval. • Mindful parenting may mediate the relationship between IPB and future IPB and EPB over a longer time scale. The current study aimed to investigate the cross-lagged relationships between mindful parenting and internalized problem behaviors (IPB) and externalized problem behaviors (EPB) using a longitudinal approach. This study enrolled 527 parents and children aged 9 to 13 (54 % female). Children were asked to complete IPB and EPB measurements, while parents were assessed on their level of mindful parenting at three different time points. With the cross-lagged structural equation model, it indicated that EPB was significantly associated with the future decrease in IPB. However, IPB exhibited no significant predictive association with EPB five months later. Furthermore, based on the indirect correlations, a mediation model revealed that mindful parenting (T2) significantly mediated the relationship between IPB (T1) and IPB (T3), as well as the relationship between IPB (T1) and EPB (T3). These findings suggested in Chinese children, a greater amount of EBP induces more IPB. Over a longer time scale, mindful parenting plays a crucial role in the longitudinal association between IBP and EBP, as well as in the longitudinal association between IBP and future IBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the interrelations among children's effortful control, externalizing behaviors, and parental corporal punishment in China. Two hundred and five father–mother dyads of preschoolers (initial M age = 3.73 years, 50% boys) completed measures of children's effortful control, externalizing behaviors, and parental corporal punishment at three time points with 1-year intervals in between. In developmental cascade models, only unidirectional direct relations between variables were found: preschoolers' effortful control negatively predicted externalizing behaviors a year later, and preschoolers' externalizing behaviors positively predicted maternal and paternal corporal punishment a year later. Moreover, although no direct relations between preschoolers' effortful control and parental corporal punishment were found, a potential indirect pathway from effortful control to paternal corporal punishment through externalizing behaviors was observed. The findings are discussed in terms of their cultural basis and highlight the importance of efforts to strengthen children's self-regulation during early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing literature studies how cognitive and noncognitive skills influence labor market outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between childhood cognitive and noncognitive skills and labor market outcomes, using a rich longitudinal data set from rural China to overcome simultaneity concerns. We find that childhood cognitive skills have strong explanatory power for the wages of adults in their late 20s, even after controlling for years of education. We also find gender differences in the returns to various noncognitive skills, including internalizing and externalizing behavior. Females are penalized for externalizing behavior while males are rewarded, suggesting the role of gender norms in the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been an increasing prevalence of parental separation in China due to divorce or migration for work in recent decades. However, few studies have compared the impacts of these two types of separation on children's mental health. This study aimed to investigate how parental divorce and parental migration impact children's mental health and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB), while considering positive factors, including parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience. Methods: We randomly recruited participants in grades 5–8 from 18 schools in 2 counties in Anhui Province. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted to measure children's mental health, SITB, parent-adolescent communication, psychological resilience, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Data from 1026 children with both parents migrating (BLBC), 1322 children with one parent migrating (SLBC), 475 children living in a divorced family (DC) and 1160 children with non-migrating parents (NLBC) were included. Regression model results showed that, compared to the other three groups (BLBC, SLBC, NLBC), DC exhibited higher internalizing problems (p < 0.05), higher externalizing problems (p < 0.01), less prosocial behaviors (p < 0.05), and higher rates of suicidal ideation (SI) (p < 0.05) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors (p < 0.05) when adjusting for social-demographic variables. However, when further adjusting for parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience, DC no longer had higher levels of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, NSSI and SI than left-behind groups (BLBC, SLBC). Conclusions: The experience of separation from divorced parents had stronger negative effects on the mental health of children than was observed in LBC. The Chinese government should design special policy frameworks that provide support to DC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capitalizing on a 15-year longitudinal dataset of 9–12 years old children in rural China, this study adopts a life course perspective and analyzes cumulative childhood adversity and its associations with mental health problems from childhood to adulthood. Four domains of childhood life are selected to construct cumulative childhood adversity: socioeconomic hardship, family disruption, physical issue, and academic setback. Overall, cumulative childhood adversity significantly associates with children's internalizing and externalizing problems as well as adults' depression and self-esteem. However, cumulative childhood adversity has no significant relationship with internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence. Furthermore, different domains of childhood adversity matter differently for mental health problems in different life stages. Physical issue and academic setback have the strongest association with internalizing and externalizing problems in childhood, while only socioeconomic hardship has a significant relationship with depression and self-esteem in adulthood. The relationship between cumulative childhood adversity and adult mental health problems is fully mediated by educational attainment. Finally, there is no gender difference in either the occurrence of cumulative childhood adversity or the association between cumulative childhood adversity and mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the risk and protective factor framework and context-dependent theory, the present study investigated the association between maternal psychological control and anxiety among left-behind children in rural China as well as the moderating roles of externalizing problem behavior and teacher support in this association. A total of 149 children with two migrant parents, 306 children with only a migrant father, and 287 accompanied children aged 11–16 years (M = 13.85 years, SD = 0.50) in the rural areas of Shandong Province, Eastern China, participated in the study. Children reported their perceived levels of maternal psychological control, teacher support, externalizing problem behavior, and anxiety. The results provided evidence that a higher level of psychological control was associated with more anxiety symptoms in all three groups of children, and this association was stronger in children with two migrant parents than in accompanied children. Hierarchical regression analysis supported our hypotheses that the moderating effects of externalizing problem behavior and teacher support varied as a function of parents' migrant status, with externalizing problem behavior exacerbating the impact of psychological control on anxiety in accompanied children, and teacher support buffering the impact of psychological control on anxiety in children with a migrant father. These findings broaden our understanding of the factors and processes that contribute to anxiety problems in left-behind children in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although a growing number of longitudinal studies have found that sleep problems precede behavior problems, few have examined potential bidirectional relationships longitudinally. The present study examined prospective associations between sleep problems and internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems over the course of childhood.Methods: Participants included 775 children from the China Jintan Cohort Study. Sleep problems were rated by mothers at ages six and 11.5, as well as self-reported by children at age 11.5. Behavior problems were rated by mothers and teachers at ages six and 11.5, and self-reported by children at age 11.5.Results: At age six, 15.0% of children were reported to have sleep problems as rated by mothers. At age 11, this prevalence was 12% as rated by mothers and 20% as rated by youth. Bidirectional relationships between sleep problems and behavior problems were observed. Mother-reported sleep problems at age six were predictive of self-reported internalizing and attention problems at age 11.5, even after controlling for baseline behavioral problems. At age six, teacher-reported externalizing, internalizing, and attention problems, and mother-rated internalizing and externalizing problems were all related to sleep problems at age 11.5, even after controlling for baseline sleep problems. Other sociodemographic covariates including child sex, age, and parental education were controlled for.Conclusions: Findings provide further support for the reciprocal relationship between sleep problems and behavior problems. Early interventions that target both types of problems may be especially effective in preventing this aggravating health-behavior cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy-related anxiety plays a major role in shaping offspring's neural development. However, its gender-specific effect on children's emotional and behavioral development is controversial and the knowledge of critical period is limited. This study aims to examine gender-specific effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on preschooler's emotional and behavioral development.Methods: This study was based on the China-Anhui Birth Cohort Study (C-ABCS). A total of 3443 mother-child pairs were included in final data analysis. Pregnancy-related anxiety was assessed by Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire respectively in the 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) were completed by parents to assess preschool emotional and behavioral development in boys and girls. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between pregnancy-related anxiety and preschoolers' emotional and behavioral problems.Results: The overall prevalence of pregnancy-related anxiety was 31.6%. Compared with those whose mothers without pregnancy-related anxiety in either 1st or 3rd trimester, preschool boys born of mothers with pregnancy-related anxiety in the 1st trimester and in the 3rd trimester had an increased risk of conduct problems. Pregnancy-related anxiety in the 1st, 3rd trimester and in both trimesters all related with preschool boys' hyperactivity and total difficult problems. Pregnancy-related anxiety in the 1st trimester and in both 1st and 3rd trimester increased the risk of preschool girls' emotional problems and total difficult problems.Conclusion: Pregnancy-related anxiety may relate with preschool boys' externalizing problems in early and late of pregnancy and increase the risk of internalizing problems in girls in early pregnancy.Limitations: There was no data on pregnancy-related anxiety in the second trimester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although few studies show that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency has a negative effect on children's emotion and behavior, the effects of the excessive VitD and the appropriate 25(OH)D concentration have never been reported. We investigated the effect of the deficient and excessive VitD on emotion, behavior and attention.Methods: 351 preschool children in a multicenter study in Shanghai, China that had serum 25(OH)D measurements and emotion, behavior and attention measures were included in the analyses. In animal experiments, C57 mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 8): control (C) group, VitD deficiency (VDD) group, and VitD overdose (VDO) group. The emotion, behavior and attention of juvenile mice were evaluated through the behavioral experiments.Results: There was an "U" relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentration and emotion, behavior and attention. Compared with 20-40 ng/mL group, the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.5 (1.0, 4.8) for emotional problem, 3.8 (1.2, 12.1) for conduct problem and 1.8 (1.1, 5.7) for inattention in <20 ng/mL group. Meanwhile, compared with 20-40 ng/mL group, ORs were 9.5 (2.9, 31.4) for impulsive hyperactivity, and 3.9 (1.2, 12.9) for conduct problem in >40 ng/mL group. Consistent with the results in children, animal experiments showed that the attention level decreased in VDD group, while the anxiety level, hyperactive level and aggressiveness in VDD group and VDO group were significantly increased, respectively.Limitations: 25(OH)D measurements were only available in one season.Conclusion: The deficient and excessive VitD status both adversely affected children's emotion, behavior and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether bidirectional associations between parental warmth and behavioral control and child aggression and rule-breaking behavior emerged in 12 cultural groups. Study participants included 1,298 children (M = 8.29 years, standard deviation [SD] = 0.66, 51% girls) from Shanghai, China (n = 121); Medellín, Colombia (n = 108); Naples (n = 100) and Rome (n = 103), Italy; Zarqa, Jordan (n = 114); Kisumu, Kenya (n = 100); Manila, Philippines (n = 120); Trollhättan/Vänersborg, Sweden (n = 101); Chiang Mai, Thailand (n = 120); and Durham, NC, United States (n = 111 White, n = 103 Black, n = 97 Latino) followed over 5 years (i.e., ages 8-13). Warmth and control were measured using the Parental Acceptance-Rejection/Control Questionnaire, child aggression and rule-breaking were measured using the Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment. Multiple-group structural equation modeling was conducted. Associations between parent warmth and subsequent rule-breaking behavior were found to be more common across ontogeny and demonstrate greater variability across different cultures than associations between warmth and subsequent aggressive behavior. In contrast, the evocative effects of child aggressive behavior on subsequent parent warmth and behavioral control were more common, especially before age 10, than those of rule-breaking behavior. Considering the type of externalizing behavior, developmental time point, and cultural context is essential to understanding how parenting and child behavior reciprocally affect one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three personality types (resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled) have been repeatedly verified across different languages and cultures, different personality models, and different stages of development. Undercontrollers are socially maladapted types with high impulsivity and low self-control. Research shows they are at risk for externalizing problems, such as aggressiveness, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior. The aim of this study was to develop an intervention to reduce externalizing problems of undercontrolled personality types in primary school students. Participants were 69 undercontrolled primary school students from two primary schools in North China. The experimental group underwent 14 weeks of systematic experiential mental health activities, while the control group performed typical daily classroom activities. Personality and externalizing problem behaviors were measured before the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and 4 months post-intervention. The results showed that the intervention significantly reduced the level of externalizing problems of undercontrolled primary school students. The effects of the intervention were maintained at the 4-month follow-up. This study provides some reference and suggestions on how to intervene in the externalizing problem behaviors of undercontrolled primary school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the association between perceived material deprivation, children's behavior problems, and parents' disciplinary practices. The sample included 1,418 8- to 12-year-old children and their parents in China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. Multilevel mixed- and fixed-effects regression models found that, even when income remained stable, perceived material deprivation was associated with children's externalizing behavior problems and parents' psychological aggression. Parents' disciplinary practices mediated a small share of the association between perceived material deprivation and children's behavior problems. There were no differences in these associations between mothers and fathers or between high- and low- and middle-income countries. These results suggest that material deprivation likely influences children's outcomes at any income level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association of parental self-stigma with child adjustment, and whether parenting self-efficacy and parenting distress mediated the association. Cross-sectional data were collected from 186 families living with kindergarten children identified to have disabilities in Hong Kong, China (mean age = 61.62 months; 76% of them were boys). Using questionnaires, 173 mothers and 112 fathers reported their own self-stigma, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting distress, as well as their children's prosocial behaviors and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Multigroup, path analyses revealed a group-invariant model for both mothers and fathers. Controlling for children's gender and age, parents' self-stigma was linked to fewer prosocial behaviors and more externalizing and internalizing behaviors among children. Moreover, such links were partially mediated by parenting self-efficacy, but not parenting distress. Theoretically, the findings highlighted the importance of considering family processes when examining the potential impact of parental self-stigma on child adjustment. Practically, the findings pointed to the utility of helping both mothers and fathers to deal with public stigma and increase their parenting self-efficacy in supporting the development of children with disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the relationship among paternal and maternal corporal punishment (CP), children’s executive function (EF), and children’s externalizing behavior problems. In total, 328 Chinese preschool-aged children and their parents and teachers participated. Paternal and maternal CP was assessed by father-reports and by mother-reports, respectively. Children’s EF was assessed by the Executive Function Touch program. Children’s externalizing behavior problems were assessed by mother-reports and by teacher-reports. The results of structural equation modeling generally supported working memory as a mediator linking paternal CP and children’s externalizing behaviors and inhibitory control as a mediator linking maternal CP and children’s externalizing behaviors. No differences by children’s gender were found. The current findings highlight the importance of EF in behavioral outcomes of children who experience parental CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese revision of the Emotional and Behavioral Screener (EBS), and to extend its application to preschoolers (4–7 years old). Teachers and parents of 216 preschoolers (age M = 5.11, SD = 0.9) were invited to complete the EBS, and some of the teachers were also asked to complete the Preschool Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (PreBERS) (N = 80) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) (N = 90). Results of confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the original single-factor model of the EBS didn’t fit the data well. Based on the results of a series of exploratory factor analyses, we proposed a two-factor model instead, representing externalizing and internalizing problems respectively. The Chinese revision demonstrated satisfactory internal reliability, inter-rater reliability, convergent validity and divergent validity. All these evidences supported its use among Chinese preschoolers to identify those who will be at risk of suffering from emotional and behavioral disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A body of literature connects parental emotion socialization behaviors to child outcomes, though little research attention has been devoted to parents' culturally embedded socialization goals that influence their socialization behaviors in diverse samples. In the present study, we examined interrelations among maternal socialization goals, emotion socialization behaviors, and child functioning in families from 2 major Asian countries, China and India. A total of 305 6th and 7th grade children and their mothers across both countries participated. Mothers completed measures of their socialization goals, their responses to children's emotions, child behavior problems, and children completed a measure of emotion regulation (ER) at a single point in time. Factor analysis of the measure of parental responses to children's emotions yielded 2 factors (supportive and nonsupportive responses), with some items from the commonly used parent-report measure Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale (Fabes, Eisenberg, & Bernzweig, 1990), while others reflected culturally salient socialization approaches in Asia (i.e., child training, explanation). Using these data-driven supportive and nonsupportive response composites, mediation models were tested for the full sample. Reports of mothers' supportive responses and child ER sequentially mediated the relation between maternal relational socialization goals and child internalizing problems. Reports of child emotion dysregulation mediated the relation between maternal nonsupportive responses and child externalizing problems. Findings of this study highlight the relevance of culturally salient parental socialization goals and socialization behaviors in understanding child functioning in diverse cultural groups. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the overtime reciprocal relations between maternal and paternal harsh discipline and children's externalizing behavior. Seven hundred two father-mother dyads of children (6-9 years of age at baseline) completed measures of parental harsh discipline and children's externalizing behavior at five time points, 1 year apart. Autoregressive latent trajectory models revealed that maternal and paternal corporal punishment predicted subsequent children's externalizing behavior (parent-driven effects), whereas children's externalizing behavior predicted subsequent maternal and paternal psychological aggression (child-driven effects). The parent-driven effects became stronger, whereas the child-driven effects were equally strong across time. Furthermore, the parent-driven effects for corporal punishment were found for both boys and girls, whereas the child-driven effects for psychological aggression were found only for boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exuberance, a temperament type influenced by approach motivation, has been found to be associated with maladaptive behaviors such as more externalizing behaviors in early childhood. A possible mechanism underlying it is children's selective attention to environmental cues. However, few studies have investigated the effect of attention bias on the relation between exuberance and externalizing behaviors. This longitudinal study examined the association of temperamental exuberance (as assessed by behavioral observation and parental report) at 3 years old with attention bias to reward and punishment (as assessed by a spatial cueing task) and teachers' reports of externalizing behaviors at 5 years old in 153 Chinese preschool-age children. As predicted, externalizing behaviors were positively predicted by exuberance and attention bias to reward. However, novel findings were that attention bias to punishment moderated the relation between exuberance and externalizing behaviors, such that exuberant children showed an increased risk of externalizing behaviors when they did not have high punishment bias. The results highlight attention bias to punishment as an important factor for the development of behavioral problems in exuberant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the family and peer systems are both important for children's development, few studies have simultaneously considered the impact of adversity experienced in these systems on children. The first purpose of this study was using latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify profiles of family maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) and peer victimization (i.e., physical victimization and relational victimization) among Chinese elementary school children. The second purpose was to examine associations between the identified profiles and short-term psychosocial adjustment (i.e., self-esteem, depression symptoms, prosocial behavior, and externalizing behavior). The sample included 4313 children (45.6 % girls) with an average age of 10.9 years (SD = 0.49) from a large city in China. Assessments were conducted on two occasions six months apart. Family maltreatment and peer victimization were assessed at Time 1. Psychosocial adjustment was assessed at Time 2. The potential complexity of children's adversity experiences was revealed in that six profiles of family maltreatment and peer victimization in children were identified: (a) Low-risk; (b) Slight peer victimization; (c) Severe peer victimization; (d) Serious neglect; (e) Severe maltreatment; (f) Doubly disadvantaged. Children in the low-risk profile showed the best psychosocial adjustment whereas children in the doubly disadvantaged profile showed the worst psychosocial adjustment. The findings revealed additional differences in the subsequent psychosocial adjustment of the children in the six profiles. The identification of multiple profiles and differing relations to psychosocial adjustment implies that interventions should be tailored to members of specific profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the developmental outcomes of children's social withdrawal in non-Western societies. The present study examined how two main forms of social withdrawal, social reticence and solitary-passive behavior, in early childhood were associated with adjustment in late childhood in Chinese children (75 boys and 92 girls). Data on reticent and solitary-passive behaviors were collected at 4 years of age from laboratory observations. Follow-up data on school, behavioral, and psychological adjustment were collected at 11 years of age from multiple sources. It was found that whereas reticent behavior mainly predicted later psychological problems such as loneliness and depression, solitary-passive behavior predicted later school incompetence and externalizing problems. The results suggest that reticence and solitary-passive behavior may represent distinct forms of withdrawal that play different roles in maladaptive development in Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundLittle is known about the etiology of adolescents’ externalizing behavior (Ext) in collectivistic cultures. We aimed to fill this gap by investigating the genetic and environmental influences on Ext in Chinese adolescents. The etiological heterogeneity of aggression (AGG) and rule breaking (RB) was also examined.MethodThe study sample included 908 pairs of same-sex twins aged from 10 to 18 years (mean = 13.53 years, s.d. = 2.26). Adolescents’ Ext were assessed with the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment including Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form, and Youth Self-Report.ResultsUnivariate genetic analyses showed that genetic influences on all measures were moderate ranging from 34% to 50%, non-shared environmental effects ranged from 23% to 52%, and shared environmental effects were significant in parent- and teacher-reported measures ranging from 29% to 43%. Bivariate genetic analyses indicated that AGG and RB shared large genetic influences (rg = 0.64–0.79) but moderate non-shared environmental factors (re = 0.34–0.52).ConclusionsChinese adolescents’ Ext was moderately influenced by genetic factors. AGG and RB had moderate independent genetic and non-shared environmental influences, and thus constitute etiologically distinct dimensions within Ext in Chinese adolescents. The heritability of AGG, in particular, was smaller in Chinese adolescents than suggested by previous data obtained on Western peers. This study suggests that the collectivistic cultural values and Confucianism philosophy may attenuate genetic potential in Ext, especially AGG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: While the impact of active maternal smoking during pregnancy on child health has been well investigated, the association between maternal passive smoking, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or second-hand smoke, and behavioral development of offspring is less clear. This study examines the association between maternal ETS exposure during pregnancy and child behavior problems. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 646 mother–child pairs from the Jintan China Cohort Study were used in the analyses. Mother''s exposure to tobacco smoking at home, the workplace, and other places during pregnancy (for the determination of maternal ETS exposure) and children''s behaviors (via Child Behavior Checklist) were assessed when the children were 5–6 years old. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine associations between maternal exposure to ETS during pregnancy and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, adjusting for potential cofounders including child sex and parental characteristics. Results: 37% of mothers reported ETS during pregnancy. Children of mothers exposed to ETS during pregnancy had higher scores for externalizing and total behavior problems, with 25% of children whose mothers were exposed to ETS compared to 16% of children of unexposed mothers. After adjusting for potential confounders, ETS exposure was associated with a higher risk of externalizing behavior problems in offspring of exposed mothers (OR=2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–3.43). Analysis after multiple imputations and sensitivity analysis further verified the association, but no dose–response relationship was found. ETS exposure, however, was not associated with internalizing or total behavior problems. Conclusion: This study suggests that maternal ETS exposure during pregnancy may impact child behavioral development, particularly externalizing behaviors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Child maltreatment is believed to have a tight correlation with adolescent problem behaviors, and one of them is aggression. According to different attack targets, aggression can be divided into internalized aggression (attack oneself) and externalized aggression (attack others), both of which are negatively influenced by child maltreatment. However, little is known about the potential mechanisms of the effect from child maltreatment to internalized/externalized aggression. Based on the perspectives of social comparison and the general aggression model, the present study examined the mediating effects of benign envy, malicious envy and self-control between child maltreatment and internalized/externalized aggression. 1951 adolescents (49 % girls, M age = 12.93 years, SD = 2.54) from mainland China were recruited. Based on the retrospective self-reporting of five questionnaires, structural equation modeling and bootstrap estimation procedure were adopted to identify the mediating effects of benign envy, malicious envy and self-control. The structural model fitted well [ χ2 (178, 1951) = 1601.176, p <.001; RMSEA = 0.064; SRMR = 0.076; CFI = 0.913]. Benign envy (95 % CI [0.013, 0.002], [−0.040, −0.079]), malicious envy (95 % CI [0.044, 0.024], [0.363, 0.241]) and self-control (95 % CI [0.025, 0.005], [0.264, 0.166]) played a significant mediating role between child maltreatment and internalized/externalized aggression. Benign envy, malicious envy and self-control played an important mediating role between child maltreatment and internalized/externalized aggression, which may provide a theoretical basis for future interventions to reduce adolescent problem behaviors, paying more attention to the improvement of emotion regulation and self-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the neurotoxic effects of heavy metals at even low levels have been well-studied, few studies have examined the cardiovascular effects of heavy metals on resting heart rate and these have focused on adult populations. The present study aimed to examine the association between low-level environmental lead and mercury exposure and resting heart rate in community adolescents. As part of the China Jintan Cohort Study, 532 adolescents aged 12 years (SD = 0.6) were tested for blood levels of lead (BLL) and mercury (BML) and resting heart rate (RHR). Generalized linear models were conducted to test the relationship between BLL and BML and RHR, controlling for children's sex, age, and socioeconomic status. Analyses were clustered at the preschool level when the children were recruited to adjust for standard error. The mean (SD) BLL and BML were 3.14 (SD = 1.19) μg/dL and 1.26 (SD = 0.68) μg/L at age 12 years, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, we found a significant interaction between BML and BLL in predicting RHR in boys (B = -1.27, SE = 0.49, p < 0.01, n = 289). We created BLL and BML groups in boys based on median cut-offs. Boys in the High BLL/High BML group had significantly lower RHR (mean = 84.22 beats per minute [bpm], SD = 8.77, n = 61) than boys in the Low BLL/Low BML group (mean = 89.03 bpm, SD = 10.75, n = 69; p < 0.05). BML and BLL did not interact to predict RHR in girls (B = -0.18, SE = 0.88, p > 0.05, n = 242). Combined high BLL and BML were associated with low RHR in community adolescent boys. Low RHR is an indication of chronic under-arousal and has been implicated in psychopathology, particularly for externalizing behavior. Our findings may stimulate further communication and research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a sample of 2- and 3-yr.-old Chinese children (N= 156), mothers' and teachers' ratings showed modest correspondence on boys' internalizing psychopathology but no correspondence on girls' internalizing. Mothers' and teachers' ratings also showed no correspondence on externalizing psychopathology across child's gender. Mothers' ratings were found to be significantly higher than teachers' ratings on externalizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Y chromosome plays important role in brain function and may help to explain the sex difference in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 857 boys with ADHD and 574 male controls were genotyped for 14 Y-linked markers. Analyses for both dichotomous phenotype and quantitative traits and the interaction effects with MAOA were performed. The results indicated significant association of four markers (M88, M95, M175, and M119) with inhibition function and aggression in boys with ADHD. Positive interaction effects with MAOA were also detected. In conclusion, some Y-linked variants may be associated with the impulsivity and aggression in boys with ADHD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)