The Protective Effects of Maternal and Paternal Factors on Children’s Social Development

Abstract

The goal of this study is to examine associations among family and child protective factors, maternal and paternal levels of distress, and children's social competence in a sample of 156 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse first-time mothers and fathers, and their children, followed from 9 to 30 months of age. Using multiple linear regression modeling, our results indicate that dyadic synchrony and children's positive temperament during infancy are significantly associated with fewer behavior problems and paternal optimism with high levels of social competence at 21 months (main effects). Father optimism and child positive temperament are only significantly related to higher levels of social competence and fewer behavioral problems, respectively, in the context of low levels of paternal distress (interaction effects). These results suggest that in our sample maternal dyadic synchrony operates in the same way across levels of maternal distress as it relates to children's behavior problems, with the exception of paternal optimism and children's positive temperament. The results also suggest that protective factors are different for mothers, fathers, and children.

A Person-Centered Approach to Resilience and Vulnerability in Emerging Adulthood: Predictions From Parenting and Personality in Adolescence

“…Such findings imply that positive, supportive parenting may also act as a protective factor for emerging adults exposed to high levels of stress or adversity. Surprisingly, research on the role of parenting in resilience often solely examined parenting behaviors of mothers (Cabrera, Hennigar, Alonso, McDorman, & Reich, 2021).…”

“…When fathers were included in research, mothers' and fathers' parenting behaviors were either not analyzed independently (e.g., Collishaw et al, 2007;Lind et al, 2018) or not included simultaneously in one model (e.g., Conger & Conger, 2002; with the exception of Neppl et al, 2015). Yet, evidence clearly indicates that fathers are also important to children's problem behavior and positive outcomes (e.g., Day & Padilla-Walker, 2009;Salgado, González, & Yáñez, 2021) and that fathers' positive parenting complements the effects of mothers' parenting (e.g., Cabrera et al, 2021;Lansford, Laird, Pettit, Bates, & Dodge, 2014). Given the independent contributions of mothers and fathers to their children's development, it is essential to consider both parents when analyzing links between parenting and positive adaptation in emerging adulthood.…”

A person-centered approach to resilience and vulnerability in emerging adulthood: Predictions from parenting and personality in adolescence

“…Surprisingly, research on the role of parenting in resilience often solely examined parenting behaviors of mothers (Cabrera et al, 2021). When fathers were included in research, mothers' and fathers' parenting behaviors were either not analyzed independently (e.g., Collishaw et al, 2007;Lind et al, 2018) or not included simultaneously in one model (e.g., Conger & Conger, 2002; with the exception of Neppl et al, 2015).…”

“…When fathers were included in research, mothers' and fathers' parenting behaviors were either not analyzed independently (e.g., Collishaw et al, 2007;Lind et al, 2018) or not included simultaneously in one model (e.g., Conger & Conger, 2002; with the exception of Neppl et al, 2015). Yet, evidence clearly indicates that fathers are also important to children's problem behavior and positive outcomes (e.g., Day & Padilla-Walker, 2009;Salgado et al, 2021) and that fathers' positive parenting complements the effects of mothers' parenting (e.g., Cabrera et al, 2021;Lansford et al, 2014). Given the independent contributions of mothers and fathers to their children's development, it is essential to consider both parents when analyzing links between parenting and positive adaptation in emerging adulthood.…”

Latinx Families’ Strengths and Resilience Contribute to Their Well-being

“…We also have little evidence for the degree to which strengths are protective at varying levels of risk-in other words, whether a particular strength is as protective against a higher level of risk as it is against a less severe risk. 18 With this context, we use this brief to take stock of the existing research on strengths and resilience within Latinx families and offer guidance on future research that could help programs make more targeted investments in family strengths.…”