Social skills and behavior problems of urban, African American preschoolers: role of parenting practices, family conflict, and maternal depression.
This study examined the role of parenting, family routines, family conflict, and maternal depression in predicting the social skills and behavior problems of low-income African American preschoolers. A sample of 184 African American mothers of Head Start children completed participant and child measures in a structured interview. Results of regression analyses revealed that mothers who utilized more positive parenting practices and engaged in more family routines had children who displayed higher levels of total prosocial skills. Positive parenting and lower levels of maternal depressive symptoms were predictive of fewer externalizing and internalizing child behavior problems. Lower family conflict was linked with fewer externalizing problems. Implications of the study for future research and intervention are discussed.
Koblinsky
Sally A
SA
Department of Family Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. koblinsk@umd.edu
Kuvalanka
Katherine A
KA
Randolph
Suzanne M
SM
D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American