Positive Parenting in Ethnically Diverse Families: Associations with Cortisol and Mental Health in Early Childhood

• In Event: 2-181 - Understanding Cultural Differences and Similarities in Development: Evidence from Stress Neurobiology and Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Introduction: Research linking parenting to neurobiological outcomes in early childhood has focused primarily on negative behaviors such as hostility (Barrios et al., 2017) and negativity (Zalewski et al., 2012). Yet positive parenting behaviors, which have long been linked with positive mental health in young children (Maccoby & Martin, 1983), can be protective against adverse neurobiological outcomes (e.g., Blair et al., 2011). The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is one neurobiological outcome that is being increasingly studied in early childhood (Baumler et al., 2013); specifically, a healthy CAR is needed to mount energy for daily challenges (McEwen, 2006) and blunted levels have been related to repeated stress exposure (Gunnar & Vazquez, 2001). Past research has rarely considered ethnic differences in the effects of parenting on child neurobiological and mental health outcomes, nor examined how “positive” parenting may differ by cultural contexts. The current study sought to examine in Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Latino families: (a) the cross-sectional associations between maternal positive parenting behaviors and CAR in children at 4 years; (b) the predictive association between maternal positive parenting behaviors and internalizing/externalizing problems in children at 5 years, and (c) whether effects are mediated by CAR. Hypotheses: We predicted that parenting behaviors typically conceptualized to be positive (i.e., sensitivity, stimulation of cognitive development, positive affect) would predict better child outcomes in NHW families. However, in Latino families, which tend to also utilize more controlling parenting behaviors (Halgunseth et al., 2006), we expected that only maternal positive affect would predict better child outcomes. We also hypothesized that child CAR would mediate effects of parenting behavior on mental health outcomes for all. Study Population: One hundred mothers (60 Latina, 40 NHW) and their children (54% female) participated in two home assessments. Methods: When children were 3.85 (.42) years, mothers and children engaged in a semi-structured play task, which was video-taped and coded for positive parenting behaviors, and children provided diurnal cortisol samples (three samples across three days). When children were 5.11 (.51) years, mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist assessing child internalizing and externalizing problems. Results: Maternal sensitivity and stimulation of cognitive development appeared significantly higher in NHW compared to Latina mothers, but after controlling for per capita income and education, there were no significant ethnic differences in maternal parenting behaviors. In NHW families, maternal sensitivity (β = 0.58, p = 0.019), stimulation of cognitive development (β = 0.78, p < .001), and maternal positivity (β = 0.61, p = 0.020) were associated with higher CAR. In addition, mother sensitivity was protective against development of externalizing problems one year later. However, in Latino families, only maternal positive affect was associated with higher child CAR (β = 0.41, p = 0.014) and maternal behaviors did not predict child mental health problems. Child CAR did not mediate effects of maternal parenting on child mental health. Conclusion: Current results suggest that some characteristics of “positive parenting” may be distinct in ethnically diverse families. Cultural explanations for the differential effects of parenting behaviors (e.g., traditional value systems) will be discussed.

Authors

• Nicole E. Mahrer, UCLA
  Presenting Author

• Christine M. Guardino, Dickinson College
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elysia Poggi Davis, University of Denver, University of California-Irvine
  Non-Presenting Author

• Madeleine U. Shalowitz, NorthShore University Health System Research Institute
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emma Adam, Northwestern University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sharon L. Ramey, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christine Dunkel Schetter, UCLA
  Non-Presenting Author