Maternal Predictors of Behavioral Disturbance in Preschool Children: a Research Note

The effects of maternal mental health and familial stress on child behavior were evaluated in a community sample of 691 preschoolers. Presence of behavior problems was determined using the Behavior Screening Questionnaire (BSQ) at age 3, and using the Conners Parent Rating Scale at age 4. In multivariate analyses, the development of disturbance was predicted by higher BSQ score, maternal role competition and maternal hostility assessed at both interviews; persistence was predicted by initial BSQ score and initial maternal hostility only. These results underscore the complexity of the relationships among maternal, familial and childhood variables.