Children's Challenging Behavior: Mediating the Association Between Maternal Depression and Preacademic Competence in Low-Income Immigrant Hispanic Children

Maternal depression and children's challenging behavior have been linked to school readiness, yet few studies have examined how they interact to shape Hispanic children's preacademic competence. This study investigated whether children's challenging behavior mediates the relationship between maternal depression and academic competence among low-income immigrant Hispanic families. Participants included 167 low-income immigrant Hispanic mothers with preschool-aged children enrolled in community-based childcare programs. Despite adverse circumstances, most Hispanic mothers reported low levels of depression, while children exhibited moderate levels of challenging behavior and preacademic competence. Mediational analyses indicated that maternal depression was indirectly associated with children's preacademic competence through its influence on challenging behavior. The findings underscore the importance of supporting Hispanic mothers in managing challenging behavior and fostering prosocial development to enhance children's preacademic competence. This study informs family and consumer sciences professionals serving Hispanic families with young children, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive, integrated practices that support mental health, parenting, and preacademic competence to promote school readiness.