Longitudinal associations between maternal love withdrawal and behavior problems among Chinese preschoolers: the joint moderating effects of child gender and effortful control

The findings underscore that maternal love withdrawal is a risk factor for behavior problems among Chinese preschoolers, though its effects vary by gender and effortful control. These results provided guidelines for future interventions: reducing caregivers' use of love withdrawal, strengthening boys' effortful control skills, and providing girls with greater support for managing internalizing problems.