The buffering effect of child-caregiver relationships: Social skills development of ethnic minority children with maladaptive behaviors in rural China

- The social skills of Yi children improved over time despite of their negative stressful growing up experiences.
- Maladaptive behaviors had a negative impact on social skills.
- Positive child-adopter relationship buffers the negative effects of maladaptive behaviors on social skills.
- This study indicates Yi children can be resilient over time if they are fostered in a positive social environment.