1159 - THE MODERATING ROLE OF CHILD TEMPERAMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF PARENTAL DISTRESS AND COVID-19 RELATED STRESSORS: TRAJECTORIES OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL FUNCTIONING

Session: P_D06S004 - Poster Session 4 - Division 6
AUTHORS:
Zarra-Nezhad Maryam (Turku Research Institute of Learning Analytics, Faculty of Science, University of Turku ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Perasto Laura (Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Tervahartiala Katja (Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Lindblom Jallu (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere ~ Tampere ~ Finland) , Tuulari Jetro (Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Karukivi Max (Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Kiuru Noona (Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä ~ Jyväskylä ~ Finland) , Karlsson Linnea (Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Karlsson Hasse (Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Korja Riikka (Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku ~ Turku ~ Finland) , Nolvi Saara (Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku ~ Turku ~ Finland)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Child social-emotional functioning is a cornerstone of healthy development, forming the basis for well-being, relationships, and learning. The COVID-19 pandemic created a context of widespread disruption and environmental stress, including increased parental distress, making children's social-emotional functioning especially important to examine.


Purpose: This preregistered study examined the role of early childhood temperament in shaping children's trajectories of social-emotional functioning across the COVID-19 pandemic, with focus on how temperament moderated the impact of parental distress (depression and anxiety) and pandemic-related stressors.


Method: Participants were drawn from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, a longitudinal population-based study investigating the impact of early-life distress on brain development and health. Families were recruited between December 2011 and April 2015 from maternal welfare clinics in Turku and the Åland Islands, Finland. Data were available from 1,305 children (46% girls, up to age 9) with reports from both mothers and fathers. Of these, 567 children participated in COVID-19 follow-up surveys across five time points (T1-T5) between spring 2020 and summer 2021. Parental distress was assessed before the pandemic (children aged 4-5) and repeatedly during it (T1-T5; children aged 5-9), alongside COVID-related stressors (T1-T5), child temperament (age 2.5), and social-emotional functioning (T1-T5, except T4).


Results: Mixed-effects models revealed that high negative affectivity amplified the impact of COVID-related stressors on emotional symptoms at T1 but attenuated their impact on conduct problems at T3. Effortful control reduced the influence of parental distress on conduct problems at T1 and hyperactivity at T3.


Conclusions: Findings highlight the dual role of temperament—as both a vulnerability and a buffer—in shaping children's adaptation to parental and contextual stressors. Recognizing the interplay between child temperament and parental well-being is critical for identifying at-risk children and developing interventions to promote healthy social-emotional trajectories during periods of societal stress.