Parental psychopathology during pregnancy and it’s relation to child behavioural problems
Britt Hallingberg
Cardiff University
Aggression
and emotional difficulties are an important aspect of child behaviour as they
are predictive of later behavioural problems, low academic attainment, and
social competence. Studies exploring the correlations and predictors of
aggression in childhood have mainly focused on children while they are in
school. Far less about aggression has been explored in children around 2 years
of age even though it has been shown that a significant amount of those with
behavioural problems as a toddler continue with problems across childhood. This
study used a sample of approximately 80 first-time mothers who were recruited
during pregnancy and followed for 3 years in the Cardiff Child Development
Study. Measures of temperament and aggression displayed by children at a mean
of 12 and 33 months were explored in relationship to the psychopathology of
their parents during pregnancy. Also of interest were aspects of social
support, which may moderate this relationship.
