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Mothers’ and fathers’ parenting stress, responsiveness, and child wellbeing among low-income families

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  • Ward, Kaitlin P.
  • Lee, Shawna J.

Abstract

Robust research shows that parenting stress is associated with lower levels of parental sensitivity toward their children (i.e., parental responsiveness), thus negatively influencing child outcomes. While research supports these associations, most studies utilize self-report measures of parental responsiveness and exclude fathers. This study examines whether observed parental responsiveness mediates the relationship between parenting stress and child cognitive development, prosocial behavior, and behavior problems in a large sample of diverse low-income families. Data were obtained from the Building Strong Families Project (N = 1,173). Dyadic bootstrapped mediation models were estimated in Mplus. For mothers and fathers, parenting stress was negatively associated with responsiveness (B = −0.08, 95% CI = [−0.14, −0.02], p = .012), and responsiveness was positively associated with child cognitive development (B = 0.15, 95% CI = [0.11, 0.19], p < .001) and child prosocial behavior (B = 0.12, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.15], p < .001). Mothers’ responsiveness was negatively associated with child behavior problems (B = −0.07, 95% CI = [−0.13, −0.01], p = .020), but fathers’ responsiveness was not (B = −0.01, 95% CI = [−0.06, 0.05], p = .814). For mothers and fathers, parenting stress was indirectly related to child cognitive development and prosocial behavior via responsiveness. Indirect effects were not found for mothers or fathers when predicting child behavior problems. To improve children’s wellbeing, interventions may consider strengthening responsiveness and reducing parental stress among both mothers and fathers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ward, Kaitlin P. & Lee, Shawna J., 2020. "Mothers’ and fathers’ parenting stress, responsiveness, and child wellbeing among low-income families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:116:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920300682
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105218
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Robin Dion & Sarah A. Avellar & Elizabeth Clary, "undated". "Implementation of Eight Programs to Strengthen Unmarried Parent Families," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 862a2c37bd034cc1bf3cfef5e, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    3. Lee, Shawna J. & Altschul, Inna & Gershoff, Elizabeth T., 2015. "Wait until your father gets home? Mother's and fathers’ spanking and development of child aggression," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 158-166.
    4. repec:mpr:mprres:6646 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Robert G. Wood & Quinn Moore & Andrew Clarkwest & Alexandra Killewald, "undated". "The Long-Term Effects of Building Strong Families: A Program for Unmarried Parents," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 3ce2a1ad000e4df09fb94b434, Mathematica Policy Research.
    6. Lee, Shawna J. & Pace, Garrett T. & Lee, Joyce Y. & Knauer, Heather, 2018. "The association of fathers' parental warmth and parenting stress to child behavior problems," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1-10.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen Wang, Yudan & McLeroy, Amanda M., 2023. "Poverty, parenting stress, and adolescent mental health: The protective role of school connectedness reexamined," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    2. Zoran Laurentiu Popa & Madalin-Marius Margan & Elena Bernad & Lavinia Stelea & Marius Craina & Ioana Mihaela Ciuca & Anca Mihaela Bina, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Paternal Intimacy Problems, Stress Levels, and Satisfaction from Families with Children Born with Mucoviscidosis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Mersky, Joshua P. & Janczewski, Colleen E. & Plummer Lee, ChienTi & Yasin, Tajammal, 2022. "Impact of home visiting programs on parenting stress in low-income women: Findings from a community-based trial at an urban health department," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Dora d’Orsi & Manuela Veríssimo & Eva Diniz, 2023. "Father Involvement and Maternal Stress: The Mediating Role of Coparenting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-12, April.
    5. Carl J. Dunst, 2023. "Meta-Analyses of the Relationships between Family Systems Practices, Parents’ Psychological Health, and Parenting Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-23, September.

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