Evidence of a relationship between maternal psychological distress and child externalising behaviour is strong. However, less is known about the pathways and contexts involved, or how these may differ by gender or family structure. This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of this relationship by investigating potential lifecourse hypotheses, moderators and mediators. Methods: This thesis consists of a longitudinal analysis of the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Linear regression analyses are used to examine potential lifecourse effects in the relationship between maternal psychological distress at nine months and three years and externalising behaviour at five years. The pathways from socio-economic position via maternal psychological distress to child externalising behaviour, and from maternal psychological distress via parenting to child externalising behaviour, are examined using mediation analyses. The potential moderating role of gender, family structure, socio-economic position, emotional support, father-child relationship quality and mother-father relationship quality are investigated. Results: Gender differences in the association between maternal psychological distress at nine months and three years and child externalising behaviour at age five were found, with a stronger association in boys. Lifecourse effects of a sensitive period at three years in girls and a cumulative effect of maternal psychological distress on externalising behaviour at five years in boys and girls were found. Self-rated financial status operated through maternal psychological distress to influence child externalising behaviour, whereas maternal education and housing tenure were independently associated with child externalising behaviour. The quality of the mother-child relationship was the strongest mediator in the relationship, and for boys the relationship was weaker in the context of a good quality father-child relationship and mother-father relationship. Conclusions: The thesis adds to evidence of the longitudinal association between maternal psychological distress and child externalising behaviour in the early years. Gender differences were found for the association, including differences in lifecourse and family relationship effects.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:626122 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Coope, C. M. |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1388180/ |
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