Maternal psychological functioning and children's school readiness: The mediating role of home environments for African American children

Fathers' language input during shared book activities: Links to children's kindergarten achievement

“…Although there is less research on parental age, older parents tend to be more educated since they've had more time to finish their education prior to childbearing (Mollborn & Dennis, 2012;Mollborn & Lovegrove, 2011). In addition, greater life experience coupled with more years of formal education often translates into more optimal parenting and child achievement (Baker & Iruka, 2013). Consequently, the present study controlled for seven demographic characteristics including: Family income, maternal education, paternal education, maternal age, paternal age, and child race.…”

Does Parent Involvement and Neighborhood Quality Matter for African American Boys' Kindergarten Mathematics Achievement?

“…By and large, children of mothers with more years of formal education tend to outperform their peers on tests of early reading and mathematics (Baker et al, 2012;Baker & Iruka, 2013). In a nationally representative study of high-, middle-, and low-income African American mothers and their children, Baker and Iruka (2013) found that 344 BAKER older African American mothers with more years of formal education engaged in more positive parenting practices and had children with better academic achievement compared to younger mothers with fewer years of formal education. Findings from the aforementioned studies point to the importance of ecological models that examine whether who parents are (e.g., family income and maternal education) and where families live (e.g., neighborhood safety) contribute to child development.…”

Relationship between postpartum depression and maternal perceptions about ethnotheories and childrearing practices

“…Despite that, some authors suggest that depressed mothers can engage less in socialisation endeavours (e.g. childrearing beliefs and practices) because they feel more unable in their maternal role (Baker & Iruka, 2013;Hagen, 1999). Thus, we hypothesised that high-intensity PPD mothers would engage less in socialisation of their children since they would report to value less ethnotheories (socialisation goals and childrearing beliefs) and perform less childrearing practices.…”

“…Several studies have shown that PPD can, in proximal terms, disturb maternal functioning, motherinfant interaction and child development (Leiferman, 2002) and, in distal terms, be considered an adaptation which reduces maternal investment (Hagen, 1999). The studies show that PPD mothers feel more unable in their maternal role and because of that they can engage less in socialisation endeavours such as childrearing beliefs and practices (Baker & Iruka, 2013).…”