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Harsh Parenting and Child Externalizing Behavior: Skin Conductance Level Reactivity as a Moderator
Author(s) -
Erath Stephen A.,
ElSheikh Mona,
Mark Cummings E.
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1467-8624.2009.01280.x
Subject(s) - moderation , psychology , socioemotional selectivity theory , developmental psychology , externalization , association (psychology) , reactivity (psychology) , skin conductance , social psychology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , psychotherapist , biomedical engineering
Skin conductance level reactivity (SCLR) was examined as a moderator of the association between harsh parenting and child externalizing behavior. Participants were 251 boys and girls (8–9 years). Mothers and fathers provided reports of harsh parenting and their children’s externalizing behavior; children also provided reports of harsh parenting. SCLR was assessed in response to a socioemotional stress task and a problem‐solving challenge task. Regression analyses revealed that the association between harsh parenting and externalizing behavior was stronger among children with lower SCLR, as compared to children with higher SCLR. SCLR may be a more robust moderator among boys compared to girls. Results are discussed with regard to theories on antisocial behavior and multiple‐domain models of child development.