SpringerLink
Log in

Appraisal and Co** as Mediators of the Effects of Cumulative Risk on Preadolescent Adjustment

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the concurrent and longitudinal relations among cumulative risk, appraisal, co**, and adjustment. Longitudinal path models were tested in a community sample of 316 children in preadolescence to examine hypotheses that threat appraisal and avoidant co** mediate the effects of cumulative risk on child adjustment, whereas positive appraisal and active co** were hypothesized to predict better adjustment independently. Children and their mothers were assessed during in-home interviews at three time points at one-year intervals. Children reported on appraisal and co** strategies. Mothers and children reported on child adjustment problems and positive adjustment. Rank-order changes in appraisal and co** predicted rank-order changes in adjustment. Cumulative risk was concurrently related to higher threat appraisal and avoidant co** at each time point. Threat appraisal and avoidant co** mediated the relations of cumulative risk to rank-order changes in adjustment. There is specificity in the relations of cumulative risk to threat appraisal and avoidant co**, whereas positive appraisal and active co** are independent of risk and operate as individual resource factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. Bulington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldridge, A. A., & Roesch, S. C. (2007). Co** and adjustment in children with cancer: A meta-analytic study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(2), 115–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appleyard, K., Egeland, B., van Dulmen, M., & Sroufe, L. (2005). When more is not better: The role of cumulative risk in child behavior outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43, 235–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atzaba-Poria, N., Picke, A., & Deater-Deckard, K. (2004). Do risk factors for problem behaviour act in a cumulative manner? An examination of ethnic minority and majority children through an ecological perspective. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 707–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers, T., Sandler, I., West, S., & Roosa, M. (1996). A dispositional and situational assessment of children’s co**: Testing alternative models of co**. Journal of Personality, 64, 923–958.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Band, E., & Weisz, J. (1990). Developmental difference in primary and secondary control co** and adjustment to juvenile diabetes. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 19, 150–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Contexts of child rearing: Problems and prospects. American Psychologist, 34, 844–850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Causey, D., & Dubow, E. (1992). Development of a self-report co** measure for elementary school children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, E., Langer, D., Raphaelson, Y., & Mathews, K. (2004). Socioeconomic status and health in adolescents: The role of stress interpretations. Child Development, 75, 1039–1052.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B., Connor, J., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A., & Wadsworth, M. (1999). Getting specific about co**: Effortful and involuntary responses to stress in development. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlabum Associates Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B., Connor-Smith, J., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A., & Wadsworth, M. (2001). Co** with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 87–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B., Malcarne, V., & Fondacaro, K. (1988). Co** with stressful events in older children and young adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 411–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group. (1991). Neighborhood questionnaire. Available: http://www.fasttrackproject.org.

  • Cummings, E. M., Davies, P. T., & Simpson, K. S. (1994). Marital conflict, gender, and children’s appraisals and co** efficacy as mediators of child adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(2), 141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, M. (2002). Negative co** as mediator in the relation between violence and outcomes: Inner-city African American youth. Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72, 102–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K., Bates, J., & Pettit, G. (1990). Mechanisms in the cycle of violence. Science, 250, 1678–1683.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A., & Pettit, G. S. (2003). A biopsychosocial model of the development of chronic conduct problems in adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 39(2), 349.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, M., & Provost, M. (1999). Resilience in adolescents: Protective role of social support, co** strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28, 343–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebata, A., & Moos, R. (1991). Co** and adjustment in distressed and healthy adolescents. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 12, 33–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebata, A., & Moos, R. (1994). Personal, situational, and contextual correlates of co** in adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 4, 99–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R., & Guthrie, I. (1997). Co** with stress: The roles of regulation and development. In S. A. Wolchik & I. N. Sandler (Eds.), Handbook of children’s co**: Linking theory and intervention (pp. 41–70). New York: Pelnum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Guthrie, I., Fabes, R., Shepard, S., Losoya, S., Murphy, B., et al. (2000). Prediction of elementary school cihldren’s externalizing problem behaviors from attentional and behavioral regulation and negative emotionality. Child Development, 71, 1367–1382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G. (2003). A multimethodological analysis of cumulative risk and allostatic load among rural children. Developmental Psychology, 39, 761–776.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (2008). The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety, Stress, and Co**, 21, 3–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gamble, W. (1994). Perceptions of controllability and other stressors event characteristics as determinants of co** among young adolescents and young adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 23, 65–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, K., Compas, B., Stuhlmacher, A., Thurm, A., McMahon, S., & Halpert, J. (2003). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: Moving from markers to mechanisms of risk. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 447–466.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, K., Compas, B., Thurm, A., McMahon, S., Gipson, P., Campbell, A., et al. (2006). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: Evidence of moderating and mediating effects. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 257–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M., Lengua, L., Coie, J., Pinderhughes, E., Bierman, K., Dodge, K., et al. (1999). Predicting developmental outcomes at school entry using a multiple-risk model: Four American communities. Developmental Psychology, 35, 403–417.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F., & Elliot, S. (1990). Social skills rating system. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J., & Finchman, F. (1990). Marital conflict and children’s adjustment: A cognitive-contextual framework. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 267–290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J., Finchman, F., Jouriles, E., & McDonald, R. (2000). Interparental conflict and child adjustment: Testing the mediational role of appraisal in the cognitive-contextual framework. Child Development, 71, 1648–1661.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J., Harold, G., & Miles, C. (2003). A prospective investigation of apprisals as mediators of the link between interparental conflict and childhood adjustment. Child Development, 74, 1176–1193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (1982). The perceived competence scale for children. Child Development, 53, 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, Y., & Warren, J. (2000). Appraisal, social support, and life events: Predicting outcome behavior in school-age children. Child Development, 71, 1206–1217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaser, S., Langrock, A., Keller, G., Merchant, M., Benson, M., Reeslund, K., et al. (2005). Co** with the stress of parental depression II: Adolescent and parent reports of co** and adjustment. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 193–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jerusalem, M., & Schwarzer, R. (1992). Self-efficacy as a resource factor in stress appraisal processes. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.), Self-efficacy : Thought control of action. Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliewer, W., Parrish, K., Taylor, K., Jackson, K., Walker, J., & Shivy, V. (2006). Socialization of co** with community violence: Influences of caregiver coaching, modeling, and family context. Child Development, 77, 605–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, C. B. (1989). Regulation of distress and negative emotions: A developmental view. Developmental Psychology, 25, 343–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1981). Rating scales to assess depression in school aged children. Acta Paedopsychiatry, 46, 305–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landis, D., Gaylord-Harden, N., Malinowski, S., Grant, K., Carleton, R., & Ford, R. (2007). Urban adolescent stress and hopelessness. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 1051–1070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and co**. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lengua, L., Bush, N., Long, A., Trancik, A., & Kovacs, E. (2008). Effortful control as a moderator of the relation between contextual risk and growth in adjustment problems. Development and Psychopathology, 20, 509–528.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lengua, L., & Long, A. (2002). The role of emotionality and self-regulation in the appraisal-co** process: Tests of direct and moderating effects. Applied Developmental Psychology, 23, 471–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lengua, L., Sandler, I., West, S., Wolchik, S., & Curran, P. (1999). Emotionality and self-regulation, threat appraisal, and co** in children of divorce. Development and Psychopathology, 11, 15–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merikangas, K. R., Nakamura, E. F., & Kessler, R. C. (2009). Epidemiology of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 11(1), 7–20.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L., & Muthén, B. (2010). Mplus user’s guide (6th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Múthen & Múthen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petterson, S., & Albers, A. (2001). Effects of poverty and maternal depression on early child development. Child Development, 72, 1794–1813.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Repetti, R., Taylor, S., & Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: Family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 330–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1979). Protective factors in children’s responses to stress and disadvantage. In M. W. Kent & J. E. Rolf (Eds.), Primary prevention of psychopathology: Social competence in children (Vol. 3, pp. 49–74). Hanover, NH: University Press of New England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sameroff, A., Seifer, R., Barocas, R., Zax, M., & Greenspan, S. (1987). Intelligence quotient scores of 4-year-old children: Social-environmental risk factors. Pediatrics, 79, 343–350.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I., Kim-Bae, L., & MacKinnon, D. (2000). Co** and negative appraisals as mediators between control beliefs and psychological symptoms in children of divorce. American Journal of Community Psychology, 19, 501–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I., Ramirez, R., & Reynolds, K. D. (1986). Life stress for children of divorce, bereaved, and asthmatic children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

  • Sandler, I., Tien, J., & West, S. (1994). Co**, stress, and the psychological symptoms of children of divorce: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Child Development, 65, 1744–1763.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2000). Causal links between stressful events, co** style, and adolescent symptomatology. Journal of Adolescence, 23, 675–691.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seiffge-Krenke, I., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J. (2009). Changes in stress perception and co** during adolescence: The role of situational and personal factors. Child Development, 80(1), 259–279.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, V., Sandler, I., & West, S. (1996). Appraisals of negative events by preadolescent children of divorce. Child Development, 67, 2166–2182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, E., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. (2007). The development of co**. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 119–144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R., & Shumaker, S. (1990). Local crime as a natural hazard: Implications for understanding the relationship between disorder and fear of crime. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 619–641.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Troy, A., Wilhelm, F., Shallcross, A., & Mauss, I. (2010). Seeing the silver lining: Cognitive reappraisal ability moderates the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Emotion, 10, 783.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Valentiner, D. P., Holahan, C. J., & Moos, R. (1994). Social support, appraisals of event controllability, and co**: An integrative model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66(6), 1094–1102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veit, C., & Ware, J. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 730–742.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, M., & Berger, L. (2006). Adolescents co** with poverty-related family stress: Prospective predictors of co** and psychological symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(1), 57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, M., & Compas, B. (2002). Co** with family conflic and economic strain: The adolescent perspective. Journal of Adolescence, 12, 243–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, M., Raviv, T., Compas, B., & Connor-Smith, J. (2005). Parent and adolescent responses to poverty-related stress: Tests of mediated and moderated co** models. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 14, 283–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wandersman, A., & Nation, M. (1998). Urban neighborhoods and mental health. Psychological contributions to understanding toxicity, resilience, and interventions. American Psychologist, 53, 647–656.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants awarded to Liliana Lengua from the National Institute of Mental Health (#R29MH57703) and from the University of Washington Royalty Research Fund. The authors thank the families who participated in this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Stephanie F. Thompson, Liliana J. Lengua & Connie Meza Garcia

Authors
  1. Stephanie F. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liliana J. Lengua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Connie Meza Garcia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephanie F. Thompson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thompson, S.F., Lengua, L.J. & Garcia, C.M. Appraisal and Co** as Mediators of the Effects of Cumulative Risk on Preadolescent Adjustment. J Child Fam Stud 25, 1416–1429 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0338-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0338-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation