Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Family risks and protective factors: Pathways to Early Head Start toddlers’ social–emotional functioning.
Journal Name
Early Childhood Research Quarterly
Journal Volume
26
Page Numbers
74-86
DOI
10.1016/j.ecresq.2010.04.007
Summary
Children from high-risk environments (e.g., adolescent motherhood, homelessness) are more likely to have social-emotional dysfunction than children from low-risk environments; however, positive parenting may serve as a protective factor. This longitudinal study assessed 114 mother-toddler dyads from Early Head Start families over two 2.5-hour home visits, six months apart. Results revealed that positive parenting (defined by maternal sensitivity) served as a protective factor for toddlers from high-risk families.
Key Findings
The more family risk factors (e.g., inadequacy of family resources, maternal depression) toddlers experienced, the more likely they would show social-emotional dysfunction (e.g., aggressive behaviors, low social competency).
A high level of maternal sensitivity protected toddlers from being influenced by family risk factors.
Older mothers (e.g., over 30 years of age) had higher level of maternal sensitivity than younger mothers.
Implications for Military Professionals
Educate Service members and military spouses about ways to develop positive parenting skills
Help Service members and their spouses identify appropriate resources to support them as they improve their parenting behaviors
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer additional support (e.g., home visits, free workshops) to military families whose children are at a higher risk for functioning problems due to risk factors such as dual-military parents, single-parent, etc.
Develop workshops for Service members and their spouses on how to increase their parental sensitivity
Implications for Policy Makers
Raise awareness on military bases (e.g., flyers, campaign) regarding the important influence of positive parenting on children's social-emotional functioning
Encourage the development and continuation of parenting programs that promote positive parenting
Methods
Participants were recruited from Early Head Start centers, and to qualify for the study, they had to be from high-risk families.
Assessments were conducted over two home visits (2.5 hours each), approximately six months apart; family risk and maternal sensitivity were assessed at Time One, and toddlers' social-emotional functioning was assessed at Time Two.
Data were analyzed to examine the association between family risk and toddlers' social-emotional functioning, as well as the role maternal sensitivity has on this association.
Participants
Participants were 114 mother-child dyads; half of the children were male (n = 57).
The average age of mothers at Time One was 26.14 years (age range = 15-51 years, SD = 6.64) and the average age of children at Time One was 16.41 months (age range = 3-25 months, SD = 5.97).
The majority of mothers were Black (74%), followed by Latino (14%), White (4%), Native American (4%), and other (4%).
Limitations
Children in the study were between 3-25 months old, so results of the study cannot be generalized to children who are older.
The sample was homogeneous (i.e., mostly Black), which limited the generalizability of the findings to other racial groups.
Most of the measures (e.g., family risk, child functioning) were based on mothers' self-report; therefore, the relationship between family risk and child functioning might be amplified due to shared source.
Avenues for Future Research
Recruit a more diverse sample that includes families of multiple race/ethnicity backgrounds and various socioeconomic status to increase the generalizability of the study
Gather data that includes a broader age range of children to examine whether older and younger children benefit from positive parenting equally
Include fathers in the study to get a more comprehensive picture of how parenting influences child outcomes
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Early Head Start children may be more likely to exhibit difficulties with social–emotional functioning due to the high-risk environments in which they live. However, positive parenting may serve as a protective factor against the influence of risk on children’s outcomes. The current study examines the effects of contextual and proximal risks on children’s social–emotional outcomes and whether these effects
are mediated by maternal sensitivity. One-hundred and fourteen low-income, high-risk mother–toddler dyads participated in this longitudinal study designed to examine the relationships between family risk, mothers’ sensitivity, and children’s social–emotional functioning in Early Head Start families. Researchers conducted two 2.5-h home visits, approximately six months apart, during which they assessed mothers’ levels of family risk, maternal sensitivity, and their children’s social–emotional functioning. A theoretically derived structural equation model was tested to examine the direct paths from family risk variables to children’s social–emotional functioning and the indirect paths by way of the mediator variable, maternal sensitivity. Support was found for a model that identified maternal sensitivity as a mediator of the relationship between parenting stress and children’s social–emotional functioning. Results have implications for providing services through Early Head Start programs that are aimed at alleviating parenting stress and enhancing maternal sensitivity.
are mediated by maternal sensitivity. One-hundred and fourteen low-income, high-risk mother–toddler dyads participated in this longitudinal study designed to examine the relationships between family risk, mothers’ sensitivity, and children’s social–emotional functioning in Early Head Start families. Researchers conducted two 2.5-h home visits, approximately six months apart, during which they assessed mothers’ levels of family risk, maternal sensitivity, and their children’s social–emotional functioning. A theoretically derived structural equation model was tested to examine the direct paths from family risk variables to children’s social–emotional functioning and the indirect paths by way of the mediator variable, maternal sensitivity. Support was found for a model that identified maternal sensitivity as a mediator of the relationship between parenting stress and children’s social–emotional functioning. Results have implications for providing services through Early Head Start programs that are aimed at alleviating parenting stress and enhancing maternal sensitivity.
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