The Moderating Role of Child Temperament in the Face of Parental Distress During Covid-19

Associations with Long-Term Social-Emotional Functioning

Dados Bibliográficos

ID17560243
AutoresMaryam Zarra-Nezhad (0000-0001-6556-0349, University of Turku, autor correspondente), Laura Perasto (0009-0003-3209-0506, University of Turku), Katja Tervahartiala (0000-0001-6253-0208, University of Turku), Jallu Lindblom (0000-0003-4636-1226, University of Turku), Jetro J Tuulari (0000-0002-1797-8000, University of Turku), Max Karukivi (0000-0002-8478-3051, University of Turku), Noona Kiuru (0000-0002-2334-8507, Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland), Linnea Karlsson (0000-0003-2581-314X, University of Turku), Hasse Karlsson (0000-0002-4992-1893, University of Turku), Riikka Korja (0000-0002-6833-1565, University of Turku), Saara Nolvi (0000-0003-4959-1473, University of Turku)
Ano2026
Data de publicação2026-04-08
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Behavioral Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0165-0254 • E-ISSN: 1464-0651
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01650254261430624
OpenAlexW7152094382
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas44

This preregistered study examined whether child temperament predicts social-emotional functioning and moderates the associations between parental distress, COVID-19–related stressors, and children’s social-emotional outcomes during the pandemic. The participants were 1,305 Finnish children (46% girls) from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort, with temperament assessed at age 2.5 years and follow-ups conducted from ages 5 to 9 years. Across five time points, parents reported their distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and family COVID-19–related stressors, and rated their children’s social-emotional functioning (i.e., emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial behavior) at four follow-ups (data from up to 568 children). Covariate-adjusted linear regression and mixed-effects models were used to test the main and moderating effects. Higher negative affectivity and lower effortful control in children predicted greater emotional and behavioral problems and fewer prosocial behaviors, while higher surgency was linked with fewer internalizing but more externalizing problems. Temperament also moderated the associations between COVID-19–related stressors and social-emotional functioning. Children high in negative affectivity showed stronger links to emotional symptoms early in the pandemic, whereas, unexpectedly, those low in negative affectivity exhibited more conduct problems under higher stress. Effortful control mitigated the effects of parental distress on conduct problems and hyperactivity. These findings highlight the role of temperament in influencing children’s resilience and vulnerability under prolonged stress, emphasizing the importance of identifying temperamental risk profiles for guiding future prevention and support efforts

Distress · Multilevel model · Negative affectivity · Personality · Positive affectivity · Prosocial behavior · Psychological resilience · Stressor · Temperament · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum