Relation of Maternal Support and Maternal Stress to Children’s Behavior Problems in African American Families Resa F. Matthew, Ph.D. JBS International, Inc. Suzanne M. Randolph, Ph.D. University of Maryland Washington, DC November 7, 2007

Statement of the Problem Chronic parenting stress have negative consequences on parents’ physical and mental health (Cohen & Williamson, 1991; Crnic & Greenberg, 1990; Koeske & Koeske, 1990). Parenting stress also influences parental behavior in that mothers are more likely to use punitive parenting practices (Crnic & Greenberg, 1987; McLoyd et al., 1994), be less responsive, and more authoritarian (Deater-Deckard, 2005). Documented association between parenting stress and adverse child outcomes such as insecure attachment, impaired peer relations, and aggression (Creasey & Jarvis, 1991; Danseco & Holden, 1998). Literature suggests that maternal stress may be an antecedent of child abuse (Chan, 1994). Empirical evidence to support either the stability or an increase in parenting stress over time (Deater-Deckard et al., 1996; Hauser-Cram et al., 2001). Parenting stress is also a factor that has been noted to influence parental behavior. A growing body of literature indicates that mothers who experience high levels of parenting stress are more likely to use punitive parenting practices (Crnic & Greenberg, 1987; McLoyd, Jayaratne, Ceballo, & Borquez, 1994), be less responsive, more authoritarian, and possibly neglectful and abusive (Deater-Deckard, 2005;

Rationale for the Study African American families are underrepresented in the stress literature Sparse research specifically on the impact of maternal stress on African American children in middle childhood Perceived social support may buffer the negative effects of maternal stress on child outcomes Implications include the development of programs, services, and coping strategies to strengthen family functioning Examine the relationship of maternal stress and child behavior problems in African American families with school age children 6-12 years. Social support how it influences the relationship between maternal stress and child problem behaviors Social Support-allow mothers to effectively cope with their parenting role promote the development of programs, services, and coping strategies that will successfully strengthen family functioning before the children reach adolescence and problems become more serious Address some of the existing gaps in the literature

Theoretical Model Ecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1986) the individual, the family, and the community systems that may influence the behaviors of both parents and children Risk/resiliency model (Bogenschneider, 1996) adopting a risk and protective factors perspective at each level may contribute to differences in child outcomes

Child Behavior Problems Theoretical Model Control Variables Maternal age Maternal education Yearly household income No. children in household Individual Child Behavior Problems externalizing behaviors internalizing behaviors Family Maternal stress Community Social Support Formal support Informal support

Research Questions Is maternal stress related to child behavior problems among African American children in the middle childhood years? Does social support moderate the effect of maternal stress on child behavior problems? At various levels of social support (low, medium, and high), would the association between maternal stress still be significantly associated with child behavior problems? This study seeks to answer the following research questions

Methodology Sample Sample is part of a larger, longitudinal study Subset of only baseline data 193 African American mothers or female caregivers that participated in a parent education program All caregivers had a child 6-12 years old

Methodology Measures Demographics mother’s race, mother’s age, mother’s marital status, yearly household income, current employment, child’s age, child’s sex, number of children under 18 in household Maternal Stress: Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF; Abidin, 1990) Social Support: Family Support Scale (FSS; Dunst, Jenkins, & Trivette, 1984) Child Behavior Problems: Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS; Gresham & Elliott, 1990) Externalizing and Internalizing behavior subscales Control Variables: mother’s age, mother’s education, yearly household income, current employment, number of children under 18 in household

Hypothesized Model Maternal Stress Child Behavior Problems -Maternal Distress -Maternal-Child Dysfunctional Interaction -Difficult Child Child Behavior Problems -Externalizing Behaviors -Internalizing Behaviors Hypothesized model testing the effects of social support moderation in the relation between maternal stress and child problem behaviors. Child problem behaviors are predicted by maternal stress and social support. Social Support -Informal Support -Formal Support

Methodology Data Analysis Four phased approach: Descriptive statistics -Frequencies, means, standard deviations Cronbach’s alpha coefficient Correlational analyses Hierarchical linear regression with interaction effects -Plot interactions Statistical procedures will be conducted using SPSS for Windows version 13, which has significantly improved over previous versions. The data analysis will consist of 4 phases. First, descriptive statistics (i.e., means, standard deviations, and percentages) will be used to summarize the demographic characteristics of the sample. Distributions of the IV will also be examined. If there are extreme nonnormal distributions, data transformations will be conducted. For example, if the distribution is positively skewed, the log transformation procedure is recommended. Second, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the PSI, FSS and SSRS subscales will be computed to examine the internal consistency reliability. Third, correlational analyses Fourth, hierarchical linear regression analyses will be conducted to test the hypothesized model. This analytic procedure is appropriate because it will allow me to enter the variables sequentially based on theory. It is also a comprehensive and parsimonious model (most economical) that will allow me to explain a large amount of variance.

Findings Research Question #1: Is maternal stress related to child behavior problems among African American children in the middle childhood years? Mothers who experience higher levels of parenting stress tended to report their child had more behavior problems. The PSI-SF subscales were significant predictors of children’s behavior problems. As hypothesized, mothers who experience higher levels of parenting stress tended to report their child had more total, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problems. The PSI-SF subscales were also significant predictors of children’s total, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problems.

Findings Research Question #2: Does social support moderate the effect of maternal stress on child behavior problems? Total social support did not moderate the relation of maternal stress and behavior problems. None of the interaction terms between the PSI-SF subscales and social support were statistically significant. Contrary to expectations, social support did not moderate the relation of maternal stress and total, internalizing, or externalizing behavior problems. Further, none of the interaction terms between the PSI-SF subscales and social support were statistically significant.

Findings Subsequent analyses included only informal support or formal support as moderators. Formal support moderated the relation of maternal/child dysfunctional interaction to child’s internalizing behavior problems. Research Question #3: At various levels of social support (low, medium, and high), would the association between maternal stress still be significantly associated with child behavior problems?

Findings Figure 1. Depiction of moderation effect of formal support on relationship between maternal/child dysfunctional interaction and child internalizing behavior problems (N=169)

Findings Dataset was divided into two sets: grandmothers and female caregivers Hierarchical regression analyses for informal and formal social support revealed two significant interactions. First, formal support moderated the relation of maternal/child dysfunctional interaction to child’s internalizing behavior problems only for female caregivers (not grandmothers) empirical evidence to support that the functional role of social support may differ for grandmothers, especially those who have taken on a parenting role at an unexpected life stage The results for the hierarchical regression analyses for informal and formal social support revealed two significant interactions The category of grandmother was defined as those who self-identified as the index child’s grandmother, great grandmother, or great aunt

Findings Figure 2. Depiction of moderation effect of formal social support on relationship between maternal/child dysfunctional interaction and child internalizing behavior problems for female caregivers other than grandmothers

Findings Second, informal social support exacerbated the negative association between maternal-child dysfunctional interaction and child internalizing behavior problems for grandmothers. Contrary to the study hypothesis, informal social support exacerbated the negative association between maternal-child dysfunctional interaction and child internalizing behavior problems (for grandmothers).

Findings Figure 3. Depiction of moderation effect of informal social support on relationship between maternal/child dysfunctional interaction and child internalizing behavior problems for grandmothers

Discussion Maternal Stress As a Predictor Mothers experiencing high levels of maternal stress may have negative or dysfunctional interactions with their children who may begin to emulate these behaviors. Formal Support As a Buffer Mothers may turn to formal sources of social support for assistance with parenting concerns. Informal Support As Detrimental Friends and relatives provide criticism even as they offer assistance with parenting. Maternal Stress As A Predictor Mothers experiencing high levels of maternal stress may have negative or dysfunctional interactions with their children such as use of aggression, hostility, and outbursts of anger directed at their children. Children who are subjected to these behaviors may begin to imitate them. In other words, harsh and inept parenting due to maternal stress provides opportunities for children to learn aggressive strategies and model them in their social relationships. Formal Support as a Moderator 1. Mothers may turn to formal sources of social support such as school guidance counselors and professionals or paraprofessionals for assistance with parenting concerns. 2. Another explanation may be that these sources of formal social support may assist mothers with counseling for themselves to increase self-esteem, help with social integration, or assist mothers with interacting with their child who is exhibiting internalizing behavior problems. 3. A third explanation for this finding may be that because the sample is mothers with school-aged children, mothers may enroll their children in formal programs such as the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother, Big Sister, or more formal team sports.

Limitations to the Study Limited to using data collected Data were cross-sectional Measures were based on mothers’ self-reports

Implications Programs developed should take into account specific sources of parenting stress Programs can provide opportunities for mothers to form connections Develop policies that address the needs of grandmothers caring for grandchildren

Questions?