Internalizing problems in a sample of Romanian preschool children. Contributions of both child and maternal temperament along with family functioning

Internalizing problems are among the most common chronic psychological dysfunctions in childhood, yet the factors contributing to their emergence and persistence in preschool-aged children are still less understood. The contribution of specific individual variables (e.g. temperament), and that of proximal environmental factors, such as family environment, recently gained attention. The present study investigated the joint contributions of child and maternal temperament (specifically, Negative Affectivity and Effortful Control), respectively family functioning, to the development of internalizing problems in a sample of 50 Romanian preschoolers. We assessed these variables of interest with maternal reports. Both child Negative Affectivity and Effortful Control significantly contributed to internalizing problems. Maternal temperamental factors moderated the relation between child Effortful Control and internalizing problems. Maladaptive family functioning appeared to be a partial mediator of the relation between maternal Negative Affectivity and child internalizing behaviours.