Negative Beliefs about Parenting and Child Externalizing Behavior: Pre-Parenthood to Early Childhood

The current study examined the associations among negative beliefs about parenting, harsh parenting, and child externalizing behavior using a prospective longitudinal design. We assessed the influence of negative beliefs about parenting before becoming a parent on later family processes (e.g., harsh parenting) in early childhood, and child outcomes (e.g., externalizing behavior) across early childhood. The study included 249 target participants followed from adolescence to adulthood, after becoming a parent. Negative beliefs about parenting was assessed when the target was 18 years old (Time 1), negative beliefs about parenting, harsh parenting, and child externalizing behavior were assessed when the child was two to four (Time 2), and negative beliefs about parenting and child externalizing behavior were assessed again when the child was three to five years old (Time 3). Results showed negative beliefs about parenting before becoming a parent (Time 1) was related to harsh parenting (Time 2), which was related to child externalizing at Time 2, which was associated with child externalizing at Time 3. Negative beliefs about parenting at Time 1 was also related to negative beliefs at Time 2, which was associated with child externalizing at Time 2, then to child externalizing at Time 3. Finally, negative beliefs about parenting was stable from Time 1 to Time 3. In sum, negative beliefs about parenting affected parenting behaviors distally and child behaviors proximally. These findings have program and policy implications that suggest beliefs held in late adolescence may have an impact on later family processes and future child outcomes. Negative beliefs about parenting in adolescence, before becoming a parent, influences later use of harsh parenting.Negative beliefs about parenting remains stable from adolescence to when their child is between the ages of three and five.Negative beliefs about parenting has concurrent effects on child externalizing behavior.