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. 2014 Oct;42(7):1117-28.
doi: 10.1007/s10802-014-9859-8.

Direct and indirect effects of the family check-up on self-regulation from toddlerhood to early school-age

Hyein Chang  1 , Daniel S Shaw, Thomas J Dishion, Frances Gardner, Melvin N Wilson
Affiliations

Direct and indirect effects of the family check-up on self-regulation from toddlerhood to early school-age

Hyein Chang et al. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

We examined the development of children's inhibitory control from toddlerhood to early school-age (i.e., ages 2 to 7.5 years), investigated the effects of the Family Check-Up on the growth of inhibitory control, and explored whether such effects transferred to the school context. Participants were 731 low-income children (49% female). Results indicated that parental reports of inhibitory control showed positive, nonlinear increase with the growth decelerating over time. Moreover, children in the intervention condition demonstrated higher levels of growth in parental ratings of inhibitory control compared to the control condition. More importantly, the intervention had indirect effects on teacher reports of children's self-control and oppositional defiant behavior as well as examiner ratings of self-control through its promotion of growth in inhibitory control. The findings are discussed with respect to implications for more specifically targeting the promotion of self-regulation in early childhood in addition to reduction in early problem behavior.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Growth in IC as a mediator of intervention effects on self-control at school. Note. Unstandardized estimates (standard errors) are presented. Solid lines represent significant paths. IC = Inhibitory control; for intervention group, 1 = intervention, 0 = control. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Growth in IC as a mediator of intervention effects on oppositional defiant behavior at school. Note. Unstandardized estimates (standard errors) are presented. Solid lines represent significant paths. IC = Inhibitory control; ODB = Oppositional defiant behavior; for intervention group, 1 = intervention, 0 = control. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001
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