The Effect of Father-Toddler and Mother- Toddler Role Reversal on the Development of Behavior Problems in Kindergarten
Abstract
Abstract Role reversal is a relationship disturbance in which a parent looks to a child to meet a parent's need for comfort, parenting, intimacy or play, and the child attempts to meet these needs. The current study examined, within a developmental psychopathology framework, the effect of father and mother role reversal with toddlers on the development of attention problems, externalizing symptoms, internalizing symptoms, and social problems in kindergarten. In a normative sample, N=57, role reversal was assessed in an observational paradigm, and teachers rated behavior problems. Father role reversal predicted attention problems and externalizing symptoms, whereas mother role reversal predicted social problems. Gender was an important moderator such that father role reversal predicted social problems for boys and mother role reversal predicted social problems for girls. The importance of a developmental psychopathology perspective, the role of fathers, and implications for the development of diagnosable disorders and for preventive interventions are discussed.
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Role reversal as an overall construct, as studied in two papers, was not associated with internalizing problems or distress.
“Parentification as an overall construct was positively associated with internalizing problems across studies except for one [19], yet role reversal as an overall construct as studied in two papers was not associated with internalizing problems or distress [72,73].”
From Parentification Vulnerability, Reactivity, Resilience, and Thriving: A Mixed Methods Systematic Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
Parentification as an overall construct was positively associated with internalizing problems across studies except for one.
“Parentification as an overall construct was positively associated with internalizing problems across studies except for one [19], yet role reversal as an overall construct as studied in two papers was not associated with internalizing problems or distress [72,73].”
From Parentification Vulnerability, Reactivity, Resilience, and Thriving: A Mixed Methods Systematic Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [73]
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“[73] 2005 57 Families (mothers, fathers, adolescents) 27 mos.”
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- Authors
- Macfie, J., Houts, R. M., McElwain, N. L., & Cox, M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
- RTI International (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Macfie, Jenny
- Venue
- Social Development
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-08
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 514-531
- ISSN
- 0961-205X (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9507
- OpenAlex
- W2058961094
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Development (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Francis Crick Institute
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- role reversal, toddler behavior problems, attention deficits, externalizing problems, internalizing problems, social problems, gender differences, developmental psychopathology, fathers, kindergarten children, preventive interventions
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