Date Approved
2026
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department or School
Psychology
Committee Member
Angela D. Staples, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jamie M. Lawler, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kelsey J. Sala-Hamrick, Ph.D.
Abstract
Background. Internalizing problems in preschoolers are prevalent, cause significant impairment, and often persist into later development. Emerging research uses state space grid (SSG) methodology to examine dynamic parent-child interaction processes that may contribute to these difficulties. While affective rigidity has been linked to maladaptive outcomes, less is known about behavioral rigidity and its association with child internalizing symptoms.
Objective. This study examined whether dyadic behavioral rigidity could be represented as a latent construct across tasks, whether behavioral rigidity predicted preschool internalizing symptoms, and whether rigidity mediated the relationship between parent and child sleep problems and child internalizing symptoms.
Method. Participants included 81 caregiver-child dyads from a community sample, with children aged of 3 to 5 years. Parent-child interactions during free play, clean-up, and puzzle tasks were micro-coded and analyzed using SSG methodology. Confirmatory factor analyses, regression models, and mediation analyses were conducted.
Results. Factor analyses provided partial support for behavioral rigidity as a latent construct, although the structure was inconsistent across tasks. Total transitions was used as the primary indicator of behavioral rigidity in subsequent analyses. Transitions did not significantly predict child internalizing symptoms or mediate associations between sleep problems and internalizing symptoms. However, caregiver internalizing symptoms consistently predicted child internalizing symptoms, and child sleep problems showed significant direct associations with child internalizing symptoms.
Conclusion. Findings highlight challenges in operationalizing dyadic behavioral rigidity and suggest that rigidity may function differently across interactional contexts. Results also underscore the importance of child sleep and caregiver internalizing symptoms in understanding early internalizing difficulties.
Recommended Citation
Trudeau, Brianna, "Rigidity and risk: A state space grid analysis of parent-child interactions, sleep, and early internalizing symptoms" (2026). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 1348.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1348