The Long-Term Effectiveness of the Family Check-up on Peer Preference: Parent-Child Interaction and Child Effortful Control as Sequential Mediators

Hyein Chang, Daniel S. Shaw, Elizabeth C. Shelleby, Thomas J. Dishion, Melvin N. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the longitudinal effects of the Family Check-Up (FCU) intervention beginning in toddlerhood on children’s peer preference at school-age. Specifically, a sequential mediational model was proposed in which the FCU was hypothesized to promote peer preference (i.e., higher acceptance and lower rejection by peers) in middle childhood through its positive effects on parent-child interaction and child effortful control in early childhood. Participants were 731 low-income families (49 % female). Qualities of parent-child interaction were observed during structured activities at 2 to 5 years, child effortful control was assessed using behavioral tasks at 5 years, and peer acceptance and rejection were rated by teachers at 7.5 to 10.5 years. Results indicated that the FCU indirectly predicted peer preference by sequentially improving parent-child interaction and child effortful control. The findings are discussed with respect to implications for understanding mechanisms by which early parenting-focused programs may enhance child functioning across time and context.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)705-717
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Volume45
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

Keywords

  • Early prevention
  • Effortful control
  • Parent-child interaction
  • Peer preference

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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