Financial Resources, Parent Psychological Functioning, Parent Co-Caregiving, and Early Adolescent Competence in Rural Two-Parent African-American Families

Abstract

We proposed a family process model that links family financial resources to academic competence and socioemotional adjustment during early adolescence. The sample included 90 9–12‐year‐old African‐American youths and their married parents who lived in the rural South. The theoretical constructs in the model were measured via a multimethod, multi‐informant design. Rural African‐American community members participated in the development of the self‐report instruments and observational research methods. The results largely supported the hypotheses. Lack of family financial resources led to greater depression and less optimism in mothers and fathers, which in turn were linked with co‐care giving support and conflict. The associations among the co‐caregiving processes and youth academic and socioemotional competence were mediated by the development of youth self‐regulation. Disruptions in parental co‐caregiving interfered with the development of self‐regulation. This interference negatively influenced youths' academic competence and socioemotional adjustment.

Economic stress and depressive symptoms among southern African American women: an examination of mediating and moderating factors

“…A number of researchers have enhanced our understanding of mental health outcomes for African Americans, yet limited knowledge is available concerning the ways in which domain specific stressors, especially economic related factors, affect their well-being (Brody et al 1994;McLoyd et al 1994). This is surprising considering that macroeconomic downturns of the 1970s and 1980s have been linked to high rates of joblessness, poverty, and overall decline in urban African American communities (Eggers and Massey 1992;Wilson 1987Wilson , 1996.…”

“…As noted in the literature review, factors such as unemployment, loss of income, and poverty are problematic for the well-being of individuals and families (Brody et al 1994;Conger and Elder 1994;Elder and Caspi 1988;McLoyd et al 1994). More specifically, economic hardship, as measured by income level, income loss, and unstable work intensifies the stress related to an individual's inability to purchase the necessities of life or make ends meet.…”

“…Recently, economic downturns have been linked to psychological distress for the unemployed (Kessler, et al 1988), with marital disharmony (Conger et al 1993), parenting behavior (Brody et al 1994;Conger and Elder 1994;Chase-Lansdale, Brooks-Gunn and Zamsky 1994) and the socioemotional development of children (Conger and Elder 1994;Flanagan 1990 McLoyd et al 1994). Although a number of social scientists have made contributions to the recent discourse concerning 14 the economic chmate in this country (Anderson 1990: Eggers andMassey 1992), studies by Wilson (1987Wilson ( , 1996 have been at the center of policy debates.…”

“…The basic premise of these studies is that economic hardship impacts marital relations leading in turn to dire consequences for parenting and the socioemotional development of children. With few exceptions (Brody et al 1994: McLoyd et al 1994), all of these findings are based on predominantly White samples. McLoyd et al (1994) has conducted one of the few studies that focuses on the effects of economic stress for African American single mothers and their children.…”

“…Some research has shown that the indicators of economic hardship increases the risk for economic stress (Brody et al 1994;Conger and Elder 1994;McLoyd and Flanagan 1990;McLoyd et al 1994). Taking these findings into consideration, a third set of hypotheses were constructed emphasizing the relationship between the indicators of economic hardship and economic stress.…”