Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Social Work

As two of the most prevalent developmental problems among American children, internalizing and externalizing symptoms are closely associated with negative outcomes (Bitsko, 2016). Although neighborhood factors strongly influence children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms, few studies have focused on understanding the influences of various neighborhood environment on such symptoms. To fill this research gap, this study systematically captures the influences of different types of neighborhood factors on behavioral problems in different developmental stages. Three research topics were examined in this dissertation: (1) the influences of two types of neighborhood factors (neighborhood structural and process factors) on internalizing and externalizing symptoms in early childhood; (2) the gender differences of the influences of neighborhood factors on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms; and (3) how the two types of neighborhood factors affect the longitudinal development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from early childhood to adolescent. Using the six-wave longitudinal dataset from Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, Structural Equation Model was conducted to answer the first two research questions and Latent Growth Curve Model was used to answer the third research question. Findings of this study extended the existing knowledge on child behavioral symptoms and help inform both macro- and micro-level interventions.

Committee: Susan Yoon (Committee Co-Chair); Kathryn Maguire-Jack (Committee Co-Chair); MoYee Lee (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

PHD, Kent State University, 2013, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Literature and research with adult mothers indicate a transactional relation between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior. Evidence also indicates that gender may moderate this relation, such that males may be more vulnerable to their mothers' depression early in life and may display higher levels of externalizing behavior than females. However, little research to date has investigated these relations in samples of adolescent mothers, specifically Latina adolescent mothers, and none, to the author's knowledge, have investigated the transactional nature of the relation. Latina adolescent mothers are important to study as they have the highest birthrate in the U. S. compared to other ethnic groups. Adolescent mothers also face negative risk factors that influence their own psychological adjustment; and their children already face high risk for negative outcomes. One potential protective factor for children of adolescent mothers is mothers' romantic partners whose involvement in child care has been shown to buffer children against the negative effects of maternal depressive symptoms and other maternal risk factors. Investigating these relations is imperative to inform intervention and prevention efforts for Latina adolescent mothers and their children. Using a sample of primarily Puerto Rican adolescent mothers and their toddlers for which data were collected at two time points, 6 months apart; the current study used a path analysis framework to test hypothesized models. First, the longitudinal, transactional relations between maternal depressive symptoms and two child behavior variables - internalizing and externalizing problems - were examined. Second, the current study examined the direct and moderating effects of gender in order to better understand the nature of the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior in our sample. Lastly, the potential protective effect of partner child care involvement was investigated to test whether (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Josefina Grau Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Beth Wildman Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kathryn Kerns Ph.D. (Committee Member); Karla Anhalt Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rhonda Richardson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2017, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

Child externalizing behavior (i.e., defiance, impulsivity, disruptiveness, aggression, delinquency, and hyperactivity) places children at risk for a broad range of adverse outcomes. Parenting has been implicated as a factor in the expression and maintenance of child externalizing behavior, but limitations exist that hinder the interpretation of findings from prior studies of associations between child externalizing behavior and parenting behavior. The current study used a large, nationally representative dataset that included multiple assessment points across child development and multiple informants and methods of assessment to examine the relationships between child externalizing behavior and parenting practices, including the moderating effect of child gender and elevated ADHD/ODD symptoms. Results of cross-lagged path model analyses revealed reciprocal relationships among child externalizing behavior and effective/ineffective parenting practices, though the pattern of results differed slightly between mothers and fathers. Child gender moderated these relationships such that some associations were stronger for males and others were stronger for females. Elevated ADHD/ODD symptoms did not emerge as a robust moderator, though group differences were identified for one model that was tested. These results underscore the need for early intervention that targets elevated child externalizing behavior and ineffective parenting practices, which may help to foster positive parent-child relationships and mitigate the risk of children with these problems developing more severe, clinically significant externalizing symptoms (e.g., ADHD and/or ODD).

Committee: Brian Wymbs (Advisor); Steven Evans (Committee Member); Julie Owens (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Developmental Psychology