Faculty Publications

Maternal Depression and Acculturative Stress Impacts on Mexican-origin Children Through Authoritarian Parenting

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Acculturative stress, Early childhood, Maternal depression, Mexican-American families, Parenting

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Volume

63

First Page

65

Last Page

75

Abstract

Depression and acculturative stress are common among Latina mothers, yet little is known about how these variables are related to parenting practices and in turn, to the mental health functioning of their young children. The present study used a sample of Mexican-origin mothers of 3- to 6-year-old children (N = 175) to test a model of maternal depression and acculturative stress as predictors of child internalizing and externalizing problems, mediated by authoritarian and authoritative parenting practices. Results showed that maternal depressive symptoms and acculturative stress were associated with child internalizing, but not externalizing, problems. Only authoritarian practices mediated these associations. Results highlight the importance of considering sociocultural context in the study of child mental health in Mexican-origin populations.

Department

Department of Social Work

Original Publication Date

7-1-2019

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.appdev.2019.05.001

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