Characterizing Social Communication Difficulties in Young Children within a Longitudinal Ecological Systems Framework

TL;DR

This study explores how factors like neighborhood resources and maternal bonding affect social communication difficulties in young children, using a longitudinal ecological approach.

Contribution

The study introduces a longitudinal ecological systems framework to identify risk factors for early social communication difficulties in children.

Findings

Fewer neighborhood resources were linked to more social communication difficulties at age 1 in dyads with impaired maternal bonding.

Lower gestational age, income, and maternal bonding were associated with more difficulties at age 2.

Neighborhood resources had a stronger effect at age 2 among families with low income.

Abstract

Social communication difficulties are a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. However, few studies have examined prospective risk for social communication difficulties in young children within an ecological systems framework. Our sample was 251 parent–child dyads assessed during pregnancy, postpartum, and toddlerhood (child ages 1 and 2). We leveraged observer ratings of child behavior, parent-reported questionnaires, and geocoded data. We examined prospective risk factors for social communication difficulties at ages 1 and 2, including at the level of the child (gestational age), family (household income, maternal mental health, maternal-child bonding), and neighborhood (neighborhood resources). Fewer neighborhood resources were associated with more social communication difficulties at age 1, but only among dyads with impaired maternal bonding. Lower gestational age, lower household income, and impaired maternal bonding were associated with more child social communication difficulties at age 2. Fewer neighborhood resources were also related to more social communication difficulties at age 2, specifically among families with low household incomes. Findings provide insight into families who may benefit from early intervention to reduce transdiagnostic risk for child psychopathology across ecological systems, including efforts to target maternal bonding and poverty.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10802-025-01308-y.

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