Parent-Child Automaticity: Links to Child Coping and Behavior and Engagement in Parent Training

This research investigated parent-child automaticity (i.e., automatic ways of thinking, feeling, and interacting) as it relates to child coping and behavior and caregiver engagement in a preventive parenting program, as well as program-related changes in automaticity. 610 caregivers (93 % mothers) of children ages 3-6 years (52 % boys; 49 % African American) enrolled in the Parenting our Children to Excellence (PACE) program, and completed pre- and post-intervention assessments (N = 544 at post-intervention). Daycare providers also provided reports of school coping and behavior. Parent-child automaticity predicted parent and teacher-reported child social coping and aggressive behavior. Contrary to hypotheses, parents reporting elevated parent-child automaticity attended significantly more PACE sessions. A significant time x attendance interaction indicated decreased automaticity following the PACE program. Parent-child automaticity during the preschool years is an important correlate of child behavior and coping, and may be a motivating factor for parents to attend parent training programs.