Citation

Burnette ML. Child Maltreat. 2013; 18(3): 195-204.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077559513478144

PMID

23420295

Abstract

Research is needed to understand the role of gender in the stability, course, and etiology of antisocial behavior (ASB). Family environment, given its proximal association with children's behavior, holds great promise in understanding risk of ASB. The present study examined the role of parental acceptance and emotional responsivity as assessed using the HOME, caregiver report of intimate partner violence (IPV), and levels of harsh parenting as assessed using the Conflict Tactics scales, on subsequent symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), a childhood disorder characterized by ASB. Data were drawn from Waves 1 to 3, Cohorts 3 and 6 of the Project for Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods. Results suggest only minor gender differences in levels of ODD symptoms, with equal rates of stability from Wave 2 to 3 in symptom levels. For boys and girls, IPV was associated with an increased risk of ODD symptoms, and higher acceptance was associated with reduced risk of ODD symptoms. However, gender differences emerged in the impact of harsh parenting and emotional responsiveness, in that the former was a significant predictor for girls only, and the latter was significant for boys only. Potential implications for these findings, including the role of gender socialization are discussed.

Language: en