Learning Objective #1: Discuss the Transactional Model of Child Development as a conceptual framework for understanding child behavior

Learning Objective #2: Describe the important role of parenting and its relationship to problem behavior in young children

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Purpose: This study sought to describe and test relationships over time that impact child behavior. Research suggests that 10%- 25% of children have behavior problems that disrupt family life. Using the Transactional Model of Child Development, developmental outcome is not a function of the child or her environment, but a product of the combination of the child and her/his experience thus to improve behavior problems, child, parent and context must be assessed.

Methods: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) was used to obtain a sample of children between the ages of six years and nine years who have undergone cognitive, socio-emotional and physiological assessment biennially since birth (N=721) and their mothers who have been surveyed biennially since 1979.

Results: Multiple regression with the variables entered in stepwise fashion with child variables entered first, mother variables second and environmental variables third, produced a model explaining 8.4% of the variance in behavior problems. Child temperament (p=. 000), parenting ability (p=. 008) and maternal education (p=. 001) in early childhood were significant predictors of behavior problems in school-age children.

Conclusions and Implications: Advances in medical technology make it possible to confirm that the experiences children have in the first years of life may have life long influences on the development of the child. Results of this research support the assessment of the parent as well as the child, by pediatric clinicians, in order to positively impact child behavior problems