Poster #34 - Links Between Depressive Symptoms and Responsive Parenting: Moderation by Neighborhood Environment

• In Event: Poster Session 05

Abstract

Abstract:
Economically disadvantaged parents often have to manage multiple stressors (e.g., childcare, housing instability) that may contribute to mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms, which can disrupt parental functioning (Conger et al., 1997; Fagan et. al., 2016; Farkas & Valdes, 2010 ) and contribute to child maladjustment (Davis et al., 2011). More specifically, parental responsiveness might be lower when parents are struggling with depressive symptoms. Hence, the exposure to neighborhood disorder can exacerbate or buffer the parent-child relationship. Deteriorating neighborhood environments indicate a risk for proximal developmental processes such as parenting behaviors (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006; Kohen et al, 2008). Nevertheless, neighborhood disorder can motivate parents to be more aware and promote more positive parental responsiveness acts with their children. The purpose of this study is to examine how depression is associated with parenting behaviors in the context of disorderly neighborhood environments. Although, economic hardship effects have been examined in child developmental processes in low-income families and their environments, little research has examined these processes and pathways from a positive holistically intersectional perspective.
Hypotheses:
We used secondary data analysis to test the following hypotheses (See Figure 1):
• H1: Depressive symptoms will be directly associated with less positive parental responsiveness
• H2: Neighborhood environment will buffer the negative relationship between depressive symptoms and parental responsiveness. See Figure 1.
Methods:
Data are from the Building Strong Families (BSF) multi-site impact study that provided relationship skills education to low-income, unmarried couples transitioning to parenthood (Wood et al., 2012). We included fathers and mothers (N=3,462 families) who participated in the last wave of data collection when parenting was measured (child age=36 months).
Depressive Symptoms consisted of mother (=.84) and father (=.82) responses to 12-items regarding depressive symptoms within the last week (CES-D Ross et. al 1983).
Neighborhood disorder was a sum of 8 interviewer-rated items (e.g., building conditions, safety, Parental positive responsiveness was a composite of 5 scales (positive regard, sensitivity, stimulation of cognitive development and reverse-coded detachment). observed during a 10-minute semi-structured dyadic two-bags play task (adapted from NICHD ECCRN, 1999) and consisted of mothers (=.80) and fathers (=.60) observed parenting behaviors.
Separate OLS regression models were computed for mothers and fathers to test the main effects between depressive symptoms and positive parental responsiveness and the moderating role of neighborhood environment by including an interaction term. Covariates included: demographics, parental relationship status, income and father residence.
Results & Conclusions:
Preliminary results failed to support the hypotheses. However, exposure to greater neighborhood disorder was associated with less positive parental responsiveness regardless of the presence of depressive symptoms in both mothers and fathers. Future analyses have begun to address missing data (27%)
The results of this analysis will contribute to understanding the potential relationship between mental health (e.g., depression) and parenting responsiveness in low-income neighborhoods. This work will contribute to understanding support needs and assets for parents from disadvantaged communities that may lead to promotion of parental resilience.

Authors

• Maria Belinda Vasquez, University of Arizona
  Presenting Author

• Victoria Hawa Cooper, University of Arizona

• Priscilla Leticia Zambrano, University of Arizona

• Melissa A. Barnett, University of Arizona