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Parenting among Low‐Income, African American Single Mothers with Preschool‐Age Children: Patterns, Predictors, and Developmental Correlates
Author(s) -
McGroder Sharon M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8624.00183
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , child development , parenting styles , child rearing , cognition , cognitive development , locus of control , discriminant function analysis , family income , machine learning , neuroscience , computer science , economics , economic growth
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.