Poverty and Child Behavioral Problems: The Mediating Role of Parenting and Parental Well-Being

Abstract

The detrimental impact of poverty on child behavioral problems is well-established, but the mechanisms that explain this relationship are less well-known. Using data from the Families in Germany Study on parents and their children at ages 9–10 (middle childhood), this study extends previous research by examining whether or not and to what extent different parenting styles and parents’ subjective well-being explain the relationship between poverty and child behavior problems. The results show that certain parenting styles, such as psychological control, as well as mothers’ life satisfaction partially mediate the correlation between poverty and child behavioral problems.

Many Kinds of Poverty: Three Dimensions of Economic Hardship, Their Combinations, and Children’s Behavior Problems

“…The association of material deprivation and financial stress with children's behavior problems even in the absence of income poverty is consistent with prior research (Gershoff et al 2007;Lee and Lee 2016;Leininger and Kalil 2014;Ponnet 2014;Zilanawala and Pilkauskas 2012). The effect sizes, which ranged from 0.06 SD and 0.25 SD, depending on the specific economic hardship combination and the type of behavior problems, are relatively consistent with prior research on the effects of income poverty on children's mental health and behavior problems (Costello et al 2003;Kaiser et al 2017;McLeod and Shanahan 1993). While we found that all economic hardship combinations were associated with higher levels of children's behavior problems, the combination of material deprivation and subjective financial stress and the combination of all three dimensions of economic hardship were associated with the highest levels of behavior problems.…”

“…Though there is a considerable body of literature showing the negative effects of economic hardship on children, this extant empirical literature also does not reflect the growing evidence that the three dimensions of economic hardship are distinct. Many of the studies that have found a significant association between income poverty and children's behavior problems did not account for either material deprivation or subjective financial stress (Costello et al 2003;Dearing et al 2006;Kaiser et al 2017;Lansford et al 2018;McLeod and Shanahan 1993). Those studies that specifically tested the FSM did account for material deprivation and subjective financial stress, but only as mediators, finding a significant association between income poverty and children's behavior problems mediated by economic strain (i.e., material deprivation and subjective financial stress) (Conger and Conger 2002;Conger et al 1992;McLoyd 1990;Mistry et al 2008).…”

“…These early effects of economic hardship on mental health endure into adulthood (Evans and Cassells 2013). Though most of these findings are based on children in the United States, the same patterns exist in other high-income countries, including those with far stronger welfare policies (Bradbury et al 2015;Kaiser et al 2017;Washbrook et al 2012).…”

“…Economic hardship in childhood has long been a critical target for intervention and policy because of its devastating immediate and long-term impacts on children's well-being. Children who experience economic hardship consistently present higher levels of mental health problems, including both internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, and externalizing symptoms, such as hyperactivity or aggression (Conger et al 1992;Costello et al 2003;Dearing et al 2006;Kaiser et al 2017;McLeod and Shanahan 1993;Zilanawala and Pilkauskas 2012).…”

Cross-sectional associations between body mass index and social–emotional wellbeing among differentially active children

“…Moreover, sedentary time and MVPA were assessed objectively, and analyses were adjusted for known confounding factors including poverty which is a predisposing factor to BMI and SEW difficulties [39]. The limitations of the study should also be recognised.…”