Files
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the moderating role of supportive parenting behaviors on the relations between preschoolers negative affectivity and internalizing, externalizing, and sleep problems in a diverse population. Method: Child negative affectivity and supportive parenting (i.e., maternal encouragement of self-regulation and supportive reactions) were assessed using questionnaires and observational methods. Results: Maternal encouragement of self-regulation significantly moderated the relations between mother report of child negative affectivity and child sleep problems such that, in the context of low levels of maternal encouragement, children with lower levels of negative affectivity exhibited the lowest levels of sleep problems and children with higher levels of negative affectivity had the highest levels of sleep problems. Moreover, children with lower levels of negative affectivity had more sleep problems when maternal encouragement was high than when it was low. Conclusions: Supportive parenting behaviors may help buffer sleep problems for children with higher levels of negative affectivity.