Influence of Mother, Father, and Child Risk on Parenting and Children's Cognitive and Social Behaviors

The families of nationally-representative children born in the United States in 2001 were surveyed, interviewed, and observed at 4 time points from birth to kindergarten entry to examine the influence of maternal, paternal, and child risk factors (poverty, unemployment, ability to speak English, emotional/physical health, antisocial behavior) on children's cognitive and social behaviors. Maternal risk was directly and indirectly linked to cognitive outcomes through maternal sensitivity. Paternal risk was only indirectly linked through maternal sensitivity.