title: Family Social Status and Preschoolers' Persistence: The Role of Maternal Values and Quality of Parenting.
abstract: Children who develop persistence in the preschool years are likely to function more effectively during the transition into school. In this study of 231 3-year-old children and their mothers, we examined the relations among family social status, maternal values of self-direction, and quality of parenting and children's persistence in challenging tasks. Results of SEM path analysis indicated that family social status was related to maternal values of self-direction, which in turn were associated with the quality of maternal cognitive stimulation and emotional support and child persistence at preschool-age. Family social status and maternal values were indirectly related to child persistence through emotional support. Focusing on parental values of self-direction and provision of support during challenging tasks may help to reduce the gap in school success between children from lower and higher social status families.
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
authors.forename: Irina L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Mokrova
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Leerkes
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcovitch
keywords: child motivation; family social status; maternal values; parenting; preschoolers