African American, low‐income mothers’ negative emotional reactivity, punishment, and children's externalizing and internalizing behavior

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveIn this study, we examined African American, low‐income mothers’ emotional reactivity and use of punishment in relation to determinants of parenting and children's behavior.BackgroundMore research is needed examining within‐group variation in parenting processes, including discipline, of African American parents. Parents’ negative emotion may have implications for children's behavior independent of punishment as a disciplinary strategy.MethodParticipants were 157 African American, low‐income mothers and their 4‐ to 7‐year‐old children. Mothers responded verbally to a questionnaire and were observed interacting in their natural home environment. Direct and indirect relations were examined from three determinants of parenting (i.e., depression, household disorganization, child difficulty) to negative emotional reactivity, punishment, sensitivity, and children's behavior.ResultsDepressive symptoms, household disorganization, and child difficulty were associated with children's externalizing and internalizing behavior indirectly through negative emotional reactivity. Household disorganization predicted externalizing behavior through verbal punishment. Physical punishment was not related to children's behavior above and beyond negative emotional reactivity.ConclusionThis study supports the proposal that parents’ ability to regulate negative emotional reactivity in stressful contexts may have important implications for parenting and children's development above and beyond punishment.ImplicationsIntervention and preventative parent education programs should consider adding components that help parents with emotion regulation during stressful parenting situations.