Full Citation

Title: Toddlers’ Differential Susceptibility to the Effects of Coparenting on Social–Emotional Adjustment

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2017

ISBN:

ISSN: 0165-0254

DOI: 10.1177/0165025415620058

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Abstract: The paper reports on a study which tested whether infants high in negative affectivity are differentially susceptible to observed coparenting behavior in relation to their subsequent social-emotional development. Data came from a longitudinal study of 182 US dual-earner, primiparous couples and their infant children. At nine-months postpartum, child negative affectivity was reported by mothers and fathers and supportive and undermining coparenting behavior were assessed from mother-father-infant observations. At 27-months mothers reported on toddlers' externalizing behavior and dysregulation using a clinical assessment tool designed to identify competencies and areas of concern in toddlers' social-emotional development. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed partial support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis. Specifically, infants high in negative affectivity had lower levels of dysregulation when embedded in a more supportive coparenting context, and higher levels of dysregulation when embedded in a less supportive coparenting context. In contrast, supportive coparenting behavior was not relevant for the dysregulation of infants initially low in negative affectivity.

Url: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0165025415620058

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Authors: Altenburger, Lauren E.; Lang, Sarah N.; Schoppe-Sullivan, Sarah J.; Kamp Dush, Claire M.; Johnson, Susan

Periodical (Full): International Journal of Behavioral Development

Issue: 2

Volume: 41

Pages: 228-237

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