Social Support, Parenting, and Social Emotional Development in Young Mexican and Dominican American Children

Maria Serrano-Villar, Keng Yen Huang, Esther J. Calzada

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study focused on social support and its association with child developmental outcomes, indirectly through parenting practices, in families of 4–5 year old Latino children. Data were collected from mothers and teachers of 610 Mexican American (MA) and Dominican American (DA) children. Mothers reported on perceived social support, parenting practices and children’s problem and adaptive behavior functioning at home, and teachers reported on mothers’ parent involvement and children’s problem and adaptive behavior functioning in the classroom. Results showed that support received from family was higher than support received from school networks for both ethnic groups. Moreover, familial support was associated with child behavior, mediated by positive parenting practices, whereas support from school networks was not associated with child outcomes. During early childhood, social support from family members may be an important protective factor that can promote positive behavioral functioning among Latino children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)597-609
Number of pages13
JournalChild Psychiatry and Human Development
Volume48
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017

Keywords

  • Early childhood
  • Latino children
  • Parenting practices
  • Social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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