Maternal empathy, self-confidence, and stress as antecedents of preschool children's behavior problems.

PURPOSE

To test psychosocial antecedents (maternal stress, self-confidence, and empathy) of preschoolers' behavior problems.

DESIGN AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-two postpartum mothers completed a 24-month longitudinal mail survey. A structural equation model that included empathy was tested.

RESULTS

Stress, but not maternal self-confidence or empathy, was directly related to child behavior problems (t=1.98, p=.05). Maternal empathy in combination with self-confidence or stress, however, moderated adverse effects on behavior problems (p=.03). Predictors explained 16% of variance of behavior problems.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Empathy was protective when stress was high. Empathy training may enhance high-risk parent education.