Developmental pathways from authoritative mothering to early school-age externalizing problems: a longitudinal chain mediation model from preschool involving effortful control and negative emotion regulation

Externalizing problem behaviors (EPB) in children have an impact on their future tendencies towards criminal and violent behaviors. Maternal attitudes and behaviors are of great significance in the development of children’s temperament and emotion regulation strategies, which in turn affect children’s behavioral manifestations. This study aims to analyze the relationship between authoritative maternal parenting style (AMPS) in preschool children and children’s EPB in early school-age, and to analyze the mediating roles of temperament effortful control (EC) and negative emotion regulation strategies (NERS) as well as their sub-dimensions (passive coping, emotional venting, aggressive behaviors). In this two-year longitudinal study, a cohort of 305 preschool-aged children (Mage = 4.23 years, SD = 0.84) at baseline (T1) was recruited from Chinese kindergartens. Data were collected at three time points: AMPS at T1, EC and NERS at T2, and EPB at T3. AMPS (T1) was significantly positively associated with EC (T2), and significantly negatively associated with NERS (T2) and their sub-dimensions. EC (T2) showed significantly negative correlations with both NERS (T2) and their sub-dimensions, as well as EPB (T3). Moreover, NERS (T2) and their sub-dimensions showed a significant positive correlation with EPB (T3). AMPS does not directly influence children’s EPB in early school-age; however, it can indirectly affect these behaviors through the parallel and sequential mediating roles of EC and NERS (including all their sub-dimensions). The presence of AMPS in preschool children is associated with a reduced risk of EPB in early school-age, mediated through its influence on children’s EC and NERS.