Socioeconomic risk, parenting during the preschool years and child health age 6 years

Citation Detail

Title:

Socioeconomic risk, parenting during the preschool years and child health age 6 years.

Authors:

Belsky, Jay, Institute for Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
Bell, Brian, Institute for Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
Bradley, Robert H., University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, US
Stallard, Nigel, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
Stewart-Brown, Sarah Lynette, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom, s.stewart-brown@warwick.ac.uk

Address:

Stewart-Brown, Sarah Lynette, Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick , Coventry, United Kingdom, CV4 7AL, s.stewart-brown@warwick.ac.uk

Source:

European Journal of Public Health, Vol 17(5), Oct, 2007. pp. 508-513.

Publisher:

United Kingdom: Oxford Univ Press.

ISSN:

1101-1262 (Print)
1464-360X (Electronic)

Language:

English

Keywords:

socioeconomic risk; parent-child relationships; preschool years; child health; social inequalities

Abstract:

Background: Parent-child relationships and parenting processes are emerging as potential life course determinants of health. Parenting is socially patterned and could be one of the factors responsible for the negative effects of social inequalities on health, both in childhood and adulthood. This study tests the hypothesis that some of the effect of socioeconomic risk on health in mid childhood is transmitted via early parenting. Methods: Prospective cohort study in 10 USA communities involving 1041 mother/child pairs, selected at birth at random with conditional sampling. Exposures: income, maternal education, maternal age, lone parenthood, ethnic status and objective assessments of mother child interaction in the first 4 years of life covering warmth, negativity and positive control. Outcomes: mother's report of child's health in general at 6 years. Modelling: multiple regression analyses with statistical testing of mediational processes. Results: All five indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) were correlated with all three measures of parenting, such that low SES was associated with poor parenting. Among the measures of parenting maternal warmth was independently predictive of future health, and among the socioeconomic variables maternal education, partner presence and 'other ethnic group' proved predictive. Measures of parenting significantly mediated the impact of measures of SES on child health. Conclusions: Parenting mediates some, but not all of the detectable effects of socioeconomic risk on health in childhood. As part of a package of measures that address other determinants, interventions to support parenting are likely to make a useful contribution to reducing childhood inequalities in health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

Subjects:

*Health; *Parent Child Relations; *Preschool Students; *Social Equality; *Socioeconomic Status; Childhood Development; Risk Factors

Classification:

Childrearing & Child Care (2956)

Population:

Human (10)
Male (30)
Female (40)

Location:

US

Age Group:

Childhood (birth-12 yrs) (100)
School Age (6-12 yrs) (180)

Methodology:

Empirical Study; Longitudinal Study; Prospective Study; Quantitative Study

Format Availablability:

Electronic; Print

Format Covered:

Electronic

Publication Type:

Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal

Document Type:

Journal Article

Release Date:

20080128

Digital Object Identifier:

10.1093/eurpub/ckl261

Accession Number:

2007-17334-016

Number of Citations in Source:

32

Persistent link to this record (Permalink):

Database:

PsycINFO

View Links:

Check Pilot for holdings now  Check 360 Link for more information  

Notes:

Check PILOT for holdings