Parenting among Low‐Income, African American Single Mothers with Preschool‐Age Children: Patterns, Predictors, and Developmental Correlates

Abstract

Dimensions and patterns of parenting were examined in a sample of 193 low-income African American single mothers with preschool-age children. Factor analyses yielded three dimensions: Aggravation, Nurturance, and Cognitive Stimulation. Cluster analysis yielded four patterns of parenting: Aggravated but Nurturant; Cognitively Stimulating; Patient and Nurturant; and Low Nurturance. Discriminant function analysis was used to predict membership in each of the four parenting clusters. Two composite functions emerged, the first representing maternal well-being (locus of control, depressive symptoms), the second representing sociodemographic characteristics (maternal education, duration on welfare, age at first birth), accounting for 93% of between-groups variability. Children's scores on measures of cognitive school readiness and personal maturity were significantly related to parenting pattern, even after controlling for significant predictors of parenting pattern; children's verbal ability was no longer related to parenting pattern once significant maternal characteristics were controlled. Findings are discussed in terms of contributions to the literature on parenting and in terms of implications for welfare policy and programs.

Social-emotional behaviors in African-American toddlers : the role of risk and protective factors.

“…The first and most frequently employed assessment of parenting strategies, the AAPI-2, was not a significant predictor of social-emotional problems in African-American toddlers. This finding contrast with previous research linking higher levels of involved parenting strategies with fewer behavior problems in older African-American children (Jackson et aI., 2000;McGroder, 2000). A possible explanation for this finding is that parent responses for the AAPI-2 subscales in this study were found to be in the low to moderate category: parental empathy towards children -3.53; expectation of children -4.01; parent-child family roles -4.16; use of corporal punishment -3.73; children's power and independence -4.47.…”

“…Parenting strategies were also associated with child behavior and preschool ability. McGroder (2000) reported similar findings when investigating African-American mothers with preschoolers from low socioeconomic families. McGroder concluded that there was a positive relationship between maternal nurturance related to parenting support and control and the children's social maturity at the child's entry to school.…”

“…(Briggs-Gowan, et aI., 2004). This hypothesis was supported by research showing an association of specific parenting strategies related to parental support and control and decreased overall behavior problems (Jackson, et aI., 2000;McGroder, 2000). Previous studies have found that African-American mothers and fathers who reported scores of higher levels of involved and parenting strategies had children with fewer behavior problems and higher school achievement (Jackson, et.…”

“…Parental structure is described as parental involvement, parental consistency or predictability and organization (Emery, 1982;Manire & Power, 1983;Martin, 1981). Previous research has shown that parental structure is critical for child outcomes in African-American families (Jackson, et aI., 2000;McGroder, 2000). The parenting strategies of parental support and parental control have been shown to be related.…”

“…Parental support and control have also been found to act as protective factors for African-American toddlers and preschoolers who have been raised in difficult and economically-deprived environments (Jackson, et aI., 2000;McGroder, 2000). Jackson and colleagues examined how maternal education, instrumental support and financial strain affected the mother's psychological functioning, child development and parenting quality (Jackson et aI., 2000).…”