Relations between parenting practices, socioeconomic status, and child behavior in Brazil

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study aims to examine the relations between socioeconomic status (SES), parenting practices, and child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in Brazil. To achieve this aim, we begin by examining the factor structure of a parenting scale (the ACT scale) for use in the Brazilian context. Participants were 204 Brazilian mothers of 3- to 8-year-old children, who answered questionnaires about SES, parenting practices, and child behavior. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the ACT scale revealed three latent parenting practices in the Brazilian context: emotional and behavioral regulation, communication, and positive discipline. Results of the final structural equation model showed that lower socioeconomic status was directly related to higher levels of child internalizing behavior problems and more negative parenting practices in the communication and positive discipline domains. Although mothers' emotional and behavioral regulation was not related to socioeconomic status, it was negatively predictive of children's behavior problems. The findings provide evidence for the utility of the ACT scale for measuring three distinct dimensions of parenting practices in Brazil. Results also suggest nuanced relations between SES, parenting practices, and child behavior in this developing country context.