Patterns of Parenting Behavior in Young Mothers

Abstract

PATTERNS OF PARENTING BEHAVIOR IN YOUNG MOTHERS* Leanne Whiteside-Mansell, Sandra K. Pope, and Robert H. Bradley** Children of young mothers are thought to be at risk for developmental delay and behavioral problems. In this study, the parenting behaviors of 193 White and African American mothers 15-24 years of age were assessed when their children were 12 and 36 months old. Cluster analysis of 3 dimensions of parenting was used to identify 5 types of parenting patterns. Evidence supporting these parenting clusters included interpretable mean scores; expected differences in children's cognitive and social development; and differences in familial, maternal, and child factors. The strongest discriminating factor-maternal IQ-was associated with more positive parenting behavior patterns. Among the mothers with the lowest IQ scores, the most discriminating factor was the birth of additional children. The results of this study support the assumption that parenting is dynamic and multidimensional. Since the 1960s, when the birth rate among unwed teenagers began increasing and young mothers began shifting away from adoption as an option for providing care for their infants, society has shown accelerated concern for young parents as caregivers. Many young mothers lack financial resources and stable environments; many of their children will spend at least part of their lives in poverty. Children of young mothers are thought to be at risk for developmental delay and behavioral problems because of the low quality of caregiving provided by their young mothers. Although research concerning the direct influence of maternal age on parenting behaviors is mixed (Conger, Yang, & Burgess, 1984; Elster, McAnarney, & Lamb, 1983; Jones, Green, & Krauss, 1980), there is evidence that younger mothers interact differently with their children and are less competent parents than older mothers on some dimensions of parenting. Several studies indicate that young mothers provide less stimulation to their children than older mothers (Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale, 1991; Carlson, Labarba, Sclafani, & Bowers, 1986; Coll, Vahr, Hoffman, & Oh, 1986; King & Fullard, 1982; Luster & Rhoades, 1989; Parks & Arndt, 1990; Reis, Barbera-Stein, & Bennett, 1986; Schilmoeller & Baranowski, 1985) and, in particular, provide less verbal stimulation to their infants (Coll, Hoffman, & Oh, 1987; Field, Widmayer, Stringer, & Ignatoff, 1980; McAnarney, Lawrence, Ricciuti, Polley, & Szilagyi, 1986; Reis & Herz, 1987; Schilmoeller & Baranowski, 1985; vonWindeguth & Urbano, 1989). In addition, young mothers demonstrate less acceptance of infant behavior (are more punitive) than older mothers (McAnarney et al., 1986; Reis & Herz, 1987). However, Lamb and Ketterlinus (1990), after reviewing the literature, concluded that there is no evidence that young mothers are more likely to neglect or abuse their offspring. Some researchers reason that young women are immature (generally measured by maternal age) and psychologically unprepared to parent. They suggest that young mothers, like adolescents in general, are absorbed with their own needs, have not developed adequate coping mechanisms, and are struggling to gain autonomy (Helm, 1988; Jones et al., 1980). Others argue that age per se may not be the issue. They maintain that young mothers represent a diverse group and that environmental and family factors associated with young parenthood may be more determinative of parenting than the age of the mother (King & Fullard, 1982; Osofsky, Culp, & Ware, 1988; Roosa, Fitzgerald, & Carlson, 1982). Because many young mothers are single, live in poverty, possess few resources, and experience more than normal stresses, it is difficult to separate the influence of environmental factors and young age (Elster et al., 1983; Ketterlinus, Lamb, & Nitz, 1991). In effect, young mothers are often at risk for distress, which makes it more difficult for them to provide nurturant, stimulating care (McLoyd, 1990). …