The relationship between cognitive abilities and maternal ratings of externalizing behaviors in preschool children

The association between child cognitive abilities and maternal ratings of c hild externalizing behaviors was investigated in a randomly selected sample of 290 preschool children. Child cognitive abilities were assessed by the WPPSI-R, whereas mothers completed the Yale Children's Inventory for the as sessment of child externalizing behaviors. Maternal education, and maternal child-rearing style, as defined by scores on the Child Rearing Practices R eport, was significantly related to perceived externalizing child behavior. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that for girls, low child IQ rem ained a significant predictor of perceived externalizing behavior when effe cts of maternal education and child-rearing style were controlled for (p < 0.01). Maternal child-rearing style made independent contributions to expla ining variance in girls' and boys' behavior score. The results are discusse d in terms of differential gender socialization practices and gender stereo types.