The mediating role of family functioning in the relationship between family adversity and preschoolers' social adjustment
Preschoolers' social adaptation is related to their degree of exposure to environnemental risks. However, the mechanisms through which the environmental risks operate their influence on social adaptation are still poorly documented. Thus, the first goal of this study is to investigate the main effect of family adversity on preschoolers' behavioral problems and attachment security. The second goal is to test the mediating effect of family functionning in the relationship between family adversity and behavioral problems or attachment security. Five hundred and seventy-two participants (n=572) were assessed on family adversity between the age of 5 and 42 months. Behavioral problems and family functionning were assesed at 42 months. Eighty of the participants were assessed on attachment security at the age of 48 months. The results show a main effect of family adversity on behavioral problems as well as a mediating effect of family functionning in the relationship of family adversity and behavioral problems. No significant effect was found for security of attachment.