Mediators of the effects of neighborhood danger on child adjustment: Maternal depression, parenting, and variations across development

Abstract

As many as 1 in 5 children are exposed to neighborhood violence, crime, and other safety problems each year. Exposure to neighborhood danger (ND) has been associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in youth. The literature presents a complex picture of how ND relates to child adjustment—including parenting and maternal mental health as possible mechanisms of the association. Although many suggest that the impact of ND on child adjustment may differ by age, this has not been empirically tested. The present study is a longitudinal examination of how ND, maternal depression, and parenting practices predict the development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in two age groups: early childhood (N=306, T1 age M=5.34; T2 age M=8.12) and preadolescence (N=214, T1 age M=9.41; T2 age M=11.44). ND, maternal depression, and child adjustment were assessed using parent-report; observed parent-child interactions provided measures of parenting. Cross-group path analyses tested the effects of T1 ND, maternal depression, and parenting on T2 child adjustment separately by age-group. Results suggest that ND effects on child adjustment did not differ across age groups. However, ND has different effects on parenting practices across early childhood and preadolescence, suggesting that different parenting behaviors might be relevant mediators of the effects of ND at different ages.