Negative relational schemas predict the trajectory of coercive dynamics during early childhood

Abstract

Coercive family processes are germane to the development of problem behaviors in early childhood, yet the cognitive and affective underpinnings are not well understood. We hypothesized that one antecedent of early coercive interactions is the caregiver's implicit affective attitudes toward the child, which in this article are termed relational schemas. Relational schemas have previously been linked to coercion and problem behaviors, but there has yet to be an examination of the association between relational schemas and trajectories of coercion during early childhood. We examined 731 indigent caregiver-child dyads (49 % female children) from a randomized intervention trial of the Family Check-Up. Predominantly biological mothers participated. A speech sample was used to assess relational schemas at age 2. Coercive interactions were assessed observationally each year between ages 2 and 4. Caregiver and teacher reports of children's oppositional and aggressive behaviors were collected at age 7.5 and 8.5. Path analysis revealed that negative relational schemas were associated with less steep declines in coercion during this period, which in turn were predictive of ratings of oppositional and aggressive behaviors at age 7.5/8.5 after controlling for baseline levels, positive relational schemas, child gender, ethnicity, and cumulative risk. Intervention condition assignment did not moderate this relationship, suggesting the results represent a naturally occurring process. Given the link between persistent early coercion and later deleterious outcomes, relational schemas that maintain and amplify coercive dynamics represent a potential target for early intervention programs designed to improve parent-child relationships.

Figure 1. The caregiver coercive interactions region

Note. Caregiver coercive behaviors region outlined in black. POS = Postive engagement. NEU = Neutral engagement. NTK = No talk. DIR = Directive. NEG = Negative engagement. IGN = Ignore. Lines within the grid indicate transitions between regions. The larger the circle, the longer the duration of time spent in the region. The interactions depicted in the figure are from one family in the study and are not intended to be representative of the whole sample or even a common pattern of dyadic behaviors.

Figure 2. Path model

Note. Bold paths are significant. * = p < .05. ** = p < .01. *** = p < .001. All covariates were assessed at study entry (child age 2). Relationships with the latent growth curve intercept were modeled as correlations, not regressions, as is depicted here.