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Reciprocal Influences Between Girls’ Conduct Problems and Depression, and Parental Punishment and Warmth: A Six year Prospective Analysis

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Abstract

Although the reciprocal effects of parenting and child behavior have long been recognized, the emphasis of empirical study in the field of developmental psychopathology has been on parenting effects on children. For girls in particular, little is known about unique parenting effects on conduct problems in comparison to depression, or vice versa. In the current study, data from the large-scale (n = 2,451) Pittsburgh Girls Study were used to examine the reciprocal relations between parenting and child behavior over a six year period (child ages 7–12 years). Girls and their caregivers (85% of whom were biological mothers) were interviewed annually in their homes. Girls reported on symptoms of conduct disorder and depression, and caregivers reported on level of parent–child warmth and use of harsh punishment. The results of generalized estimating equation regression models demonstrated that both parenting behaviors were uniquely predictive of changes in girls’ conduct problems and depressed mood. When the effects of race and poverty on these associations were controlled for, both parenting effects on girls’ conduct problems remained significant, but only low parental warmth remained as a significant predictor of depressed mood. Girls’ conduct problems, but not depressed mood, predicted changes in harsh punishment over time. The small effect of girls’ depressed mood, on changes in parental warmth, was further weakened when socio-demographic factors were also included in the model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Alison Hipwell, Rolf Loeber, Magda Stouthamer-Loeber & Tammy Bean

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kate Keenan

  3. Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kristen Kasza

  4. Sterling building, Suite 408, 201 North Craig Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Alison Hipwell

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  1. Alison Hipwell
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Hipwell, A., Keenan, K., Kasza, K. et al. Reciprocal Influences Between Girls’ Conduct Problems and Depression, and Parental Punishment and Warmth: A Six year Prospective Analysis. J Abnorm Child Psychol 36, 663–677 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9206-4

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