The Longitudinal Associations Between Parenting Practices and Child Externalizing Behaviour Within the School Year

Abstract

Objective. Studies have examined the associations between parenting practices and child externalizing outcomes. However, there is a need for further research to more causally determine the longitudinal connections between specific parenting practices and child externalizing behaviour during the school year. This study examined the three parenting practices of parental involvement, positive parenting, and inconsistent discipline in relation to child externalizing behaviour. Methods. Thirty-six parents of 6–11-year-old children participated in this study by completing questionnaires measuring parenting practices and child behaviour across three time-points during the 2019-2020 academic year. Multiple regressions examined the associations between parenting at Time 1 in predicting child externalizing behaviour at Time 2, while controlling for Time 1 externalizing behaviour. Parenting at Time 2 in predicting child externalizing behaviour at Time 3 was examined, while controlling for child externalizing behaviour at Time 2. Results. There were no significant results found in these analyses. Future research should examine these associations among a larger sample and independent from potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on findings.