Bills, babies, and (language) barriers: Associations among economic strain, parenting, and primary language during the newborn period

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, parenting satisfaction, and parent primary language in a universally low-income sample of parents with newborns. Background: Previous research links increased economic strain to lower levels of parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction among socioeconomically diverse parents with older children. Little research has examined whether primary language shapes the associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting satisfaction. Method: Parents (n = 194, M age = 30.91) completed selfreport surveys measuring economic strain, parenting selfefficacy, and parenting satisfaction. Parents' ethnic selfidentification and primary language were used to stratify parents into three groups: Latinx Spanish speakers, Latinx English speakers, and non-Latinx English speakers. Results: Regression analyses revealed that economic strain was negatively associated with both parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction. Further, the negative association between economic strain and parenting self-efficacy was stronger for Latinx Spanish speakers. Conclusion: Economic strain may negatively influence parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction during the newborn period. Parents whose primary language is Spanish may be disproportionately affected by economic strain. Implications: Parents of newborns may benefit from increased economic supports in linguistically responsive pediatric care and social service settings.

Examining Financial Hardship and Caregiver Subgroups in Kinship Foster Placements: A Machine Learning Approach

“…Studies have reported several adverse effects of financial hardship on different members of the family system. Among adults, financial hardship has been found to contribute to caregiver depression [11,12], increased psychological distress [41], relational conflicts [14], decreased self-efficacy [13], increased aggression [42], and reduced positive parenting techniques [12,14]. The heightened stress experienced by caregivers facing financial hardship can affect their behaviors, parenting satisfaction, and, ultimately, their ability to engage in sensitive parenting [13,43,44].…”

“…Among adults, financial hardship has been found to contribute to caregiver depression [11,12], increased psychological distress [41], relational conflicts [14], decreased self-efficacy [13], increased aggression [42], and reduced positive parenting techniques [12,14]. The heightened stress experienced by caregivers facing financial hardship can affect their behaviors, parenting satisfaction, and, ultimately, their ability to engage in sensitive parenting [13,43,44]. Preoccupation with addressing pressing family economic needs affects a caregiver's ability to fully invest in the long-term social, health, and educational needs of a child in their care [45].…”

“…The experience of financial hardship can significantly impact a child's well-being, including their physical and mental health [8][9][10]. The impact of financial hardship on the caregiver has also been considered previously [11][12][13][14], but less is known about the impact that financial hardship has on a caregiver's current caregiving choices or plans to provide support to additional non-relative children as a licensed foster parent. One situation where the decision to support an additional child can arise is when considering placement for the sibling of a relative who is already living with a kinship caregiver.…”

Connecting families: a qualitative study examining the experiences of parenting young children under financial strain in Ontario, Canada

“…Financial concerns also influence parents’ attitudes and behaviours associated with parenting, impacting their capacities to interact positively with their families [ 17 ]. Negative associations between economic strain, parental self-efficacy, and parental satisfaction have been documented [ 9 , 18 , 19 ]. Financial difficulties can affect the relationship quality between parents and children [ 20 ], and parental mental health, including depression and anxiety, can contribute to a deterioration of positive parenting practices [ 21 – 24 ].…”