Chaos, danger, and maternal parenting in families: Links with adolescent adjustment in low- and middle-income countries

Kirby Deater-Deckard, Jennifer Godwin, Jennifer E. Lansford, Liliana Maria Uribe Tirado, Saengduean Yotanyamaneewong, Liane Peña Alampay, Suha M. Al-Hassan, Dario Bacchini, Marc H. Bornstein, Lei Chang, Laura Di Giunta, Kenneth A. Dodge, Paul Oburu, Concetta Pastorelli, Ann T. Skinner, Emma Sorbring, Laurence Steinberg, Sombat Tapanya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The current longitudinal study is the first comparative investigation across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to test the hypothesis that harsher and less affectionate maternal parenting (child age 14 years, on average) statistically mediates the prediction from prior household chaos and neighborhood danger (at 13 years) to subsequent adolescent maladjustment (externalizing, internalizing, and school performance problems at 15 years). The sample included 511 urban families in six LMICs: China, Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, and Thailand. Multigroup structural equation modeling showed consistent associations between chaos, danger, affectionate and harsh parenting, and adolescent adjustment problems. There was some support for the hypothesis, with nearly all countries showing a modest indirect effect of maternal hostility (but not affection) for adolescent externalizing, internalizing, and scholastic problems. Results provide further evidence that chaotic home and dangerous neighborhood environments increase risk for adolescent maladjustment in LMIC contexts, via harsher maternal parenting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12855
JournalDevelopmental science
Volume22
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • academic achievement
  • adolescence
  • externalizing
  • internalizing
  • low- and middle-income countries
  • parenting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

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