Early Parenting Effects on Childhood Delay of Gratification and Adolescent Allostatic Load.

Background/

Objectives

Early parenting can influence child self-regulatory skills, which are in turn linked to allostatic load (AL)-a predictor of future morbidity and mortality. However, this mechanistic pathway from early parenting to later AL has not been tested using longitudinal data.

Methods

We analyzed longitudinal data (N = 1364) from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development to examine relationships between early childhood (ages 2-3) observed parenting behaviors (i.e., autonomy support, supportive presence and hostility) and a comprehensive index of adolescent (age 15) AL, and assessed delay of gratification (at 54 months) as a mediator and moderator of these associations.

Results

Maternal supportive presence and hostility in early childhood were directly associated with adolescent AL. All three early childhood parenting behaviors were associated with delay of gratification at 54 months. There was no evidence of mediation or moderation.

Conclusions

The findings suggest the important role of early parenting behaviors in predicting long-term AL outcomes.