A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The Moderating Role of Child Temperament in the Face of Parental Distress During Covid-19: Associations with Long-Term Social-Emotional Functioning
Authors: Zarra-Nezhad, Maryam; Perasto, Laura; Tervahartiala, Katja; Lindblom, Jallu; Tuulari, Jetro J.; Karukivi, Max; Kiuru, Noona; Karlsson, Linnea; Karlsson, Hasse; Korja, Riikka; Nolvi, Saara
Publication year: 2026
Journal: International Journal of Behavioral Development
Article number: 01650254261430624
ISSN: 0165-0254
eISSN: 1464-0651
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254261430624
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254261430624
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/516268499
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
This preregistered study examined whether child temperament predicts social-emotional functioning and moderates the associations between parental distress, COVID-19–related stressors, and children’s social-emotional outcomes during the pandemic. The participants were 1,305 Finnish children (46% girls) from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort, with temperament assessed at age 2.5 years and follow-ups conducted from ages 5 to 9 years. Across five time points, parents reported their distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and family COVID-19–related stressors, and rated their children’s social-emotional functioning (i.e., emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial behavior) at four follow-ups (data from up to 568 children). Covariate-adjusted linear regression and mixed-effects models were used to test the main and moderating effects. Higher negative affectivity and lower effortful control in children predicted greater emotional and behavioral problems and fewer prosocial behaviors, while higher surgency was linked with fewer internalizing but more externalizing problems. Temperament also moderated the associations between COVID-19–related stressors and social-emotional functioning. Children high in negative affectivity showed stronger links to emotional symptoms early in the pandemic, whereas, unexpectedly, those low in negative affectivity exhibited more conduct problems under higher stress. Effortful control mitigated the effects of parental distress on conduct problems and hyperactivity. These findings highlight the role of temperament in influencing children’s resilience and vulnerability under prolonged stress, emphasizing the importance of identifying temperamental risk profiles for guiding future prevention and support efforts.
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Funding information in the publication:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the Research Council of Finland [grant numbers 346121 (Centre of Excellence in Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research), 358924 and 358947 (EDUCA Flagship, to Maryam Zarra-Nezhad), and 342748], the Strategic Research Council (SRC) within the Academy of Finland (352648, subproject 352655), the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Signe & Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, and State Research Funding from Turku University Hospital. The writing (review and editing) of this manuscript was supported by the Hospital District of Southwest Finland and Finnish State Grants for Clinical Research (VTR) awarded to Jetro J. Tuulari.