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Longitudinal Associations of Childhood Parenting and Adolescent Health: The Mediating Influence of Social Competence
Author(s) -
Boyer Brittany P.,
Nelson Jackie A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12347
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , social competence , competence (human resources) , longitudinal study , childhood development , child development , adolescent development , parenting styles , social change , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , economics , economic growth
The current study examined a process through which parenting during the primary school transition contributes to cardiovascular health in adolescence, a foundational period for adult health trajectories. Using path analyses, social competence was tested as a mediator between parental sensitivity and adolescent health among 884 families. Results indicated that mothers’ and fathers’ sensitivity was associated with increasing social competence from first grade (age 7) to sixth grade (age 12), which was associated with higher awakening cortisol in ninth grade (age 15) and decreasing blood pressure from sixth to ninth grade. Results suggest that social competence mediates associations between childhood parenting and adolescent cardiovascular risk, and may be protective to children's health over time.