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Mother-Child Conflict Interaction in the Toddler Years: Behavior Patterns and Correlates

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Abstract

We examined mother-child (M-C) conflict behavior during the toddler years. The nature of M-C conflict behaviors, whether conflict behavior differed by context, and factors that were associated with conflict interactions were examined. We used data collected as part of the National Evaluation of the Healthy Steps for Young Children Program. 378 M-C dyads participated in this study. Videotaped observational data at 16–18 months were used to code conflict behaviors using an event recording method. Results showed that M-C conflict were more likely to be initiated by the mothers and that conflict interactions were influenced by context of interaction, family, maternal, and child temperamental factors. In this study, we provide a foundation for understanding parent-child conflict interaction prior to age two.

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Acknowledgments

This research is based on data collected from the Healthy Steps for Young Children Program; data collection was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, The Amarillo Area Foundation, The Duke Endowment, The Hogg Foundation and The McLeod Foundation. Partial results from the study were presented at the 2005 Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting in Atlanta, GA. The advice of Dr. Tess Miller and Dr. Raymond Starr, and support from Dr. Cynthia Minkovitz, Dr. Bernard Guyer, Dr. Donna Strobino, Ms. Nancy Hughart, and Theresa Schmitz are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NYU Child Study Center, New York University, School of Medicine, 215 Lexington Ave. 14 FL, New York, 10016, NY, USA

    Keng-Yen Huang

  2. Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Douglas M. Teti

  3. School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Dallas, TX, USA

    Margaret O’Brien Caughy

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Stanley Feldstein

  5. Population and Family Science, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Janice Genevro

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  1. Keng-Yen Huang
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Correspondence to Keng-Yen Huang.

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Huang, KY., Teti, D.M., Caughy, M.O. et al. Mother-Child Conflict Interaction in the Toddler Years: Behavior Patterns and Correlates. J Child Fam Stud 16, 219–241 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-006-9081-6

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