Fig. 1

Pictorial representation of the set-up, summarizing in black the moments in which data on maternal stress (PSQ questionnaire) and child behavior problems (SDQ and FBB-HKS questionnaires) were collected, and in grey the statistical analyses run (with arrows indicating generalized linear mixed models and linear mixed models, and the square indicating the longitudinal cross-lagged models). Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess the factors predicting maternal stress levels (Model 1), the link between maternal stress (i.e. prenatal and postnatal) and child behavior problems, and the potential promotive or protective effect of siblings on child behavior problems (Models 2 and 3). Longitudinal cross-lagged models were used to study the dynamic relationship between maternal stress and behavior problems during child development (i.e. in the three waves)