Birth mother antisocial behavior and child social competence as moderated by adoptive parent-child relationship quality
Open Access
Author:
Brusca, Rebecca Ann
Area of Honors:
Human Development and Family Studies (University College)
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Jenae Marie Neiderhiser, Thesis Supervisor Charles Geier, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Child social competence birth mother antisocial behavior adoptive parent-child relationship quality adoption study
Abstract:
The current study used a longitudinal parent-offspring adoption design to examine the effect of birth mother antisocial behavior on toddler social competence and to examine if this association was moderated by the adoptive-parent child relationship. Birth mothers were assessed when the child was 18 months of age. Adoptive mother-child and adoptive father-child relationships and child social competence were assessed when the child was 27 months of age. Regression analyses indicated that birth mother antisocial behavior was not associated with toddler social competence, therefore the adoptive parent-child relationship did not moderate this relationship. However, conflict and closeness within the adoptive mother-child relationship was significantly associated with toddler social competence, as did closeness within the adoptive father-child relationship. Conflict within the adoptive father-child relationship was not predictive of toddler social competence.
