Financial hardship, neighborhood cohesion and child externalizing behaviors: An extension of the family stress model among immigrant mothers

Abstract

Research indicates heightened risk for financial, psychological, and emotional strain among immigrant families. Studies that examine the family stress model in concert with unique stressors associated with immigrant adjustment, such as community integration, are limited. Using a longitudinal framework, this study applied the family stress model on a sample of first-generation immigrant mothers (N = 831) to examine whether financial hardship and neighborhood cohesion impacted children’s externalizing behaviors via maternal depression and harsh parenting. Data came from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Financial hardship (OR = 1.36, p < .001) and neighborhood cohesion (OR = 0.65, p = .004) both predicted maternal depression. Maternal depression was not associated with harsh parenting (OR = 2.05, p = .259). Harsh parenting was not associated with child externalizing behaviors (b = 0.04, SE = 0.02, p = .363).Financial hardship (indirect effect: b = 0.22, SE = 0.06, p < .001) and neighborhood cohesion (indirect effect: b = -0.18, SE = 0.07, p = .007) predicted child externalizing behaviors via maternal depression. Findings suggest that interventions need to address economic, social environments, and parental mental health in efforts to reduce risk of developing problem behaviors among children of immigrants.