Lecture 2: Families in Childhood & Ad

Lamb (1987)

stated that in a psychological sense, fathers can fulfil a parenting role just as much as mothers, but frequently do not. stated that pre-school children show less gender role-stereotyping

Lewis (1986)

did an interview study of fathers of 1-year-olds in Nottingham. 100 fathers in 1960 and another 100 fathers in 1980. majority of men attended the births of their children, but majority of the child care falls on women

Russell & Russel (1987)

data showed that mothers are the primary caregivers, specifically for tasks requiring daily nurturing (education, reading, engagement, health needs, bedtime, dressing). fathers play more secondary/supportive roles often related to play and physical engagement.

Pew Research on parental child care

showed that parental roles converged over time but gaps still remain

ONS, 2021

showed that paid work falls on fathers, childcare and housework falls on mothers. from 2015 to 2022, mother childcare was the same, but fathers increased by 16%

how highly involved fathers affect children

pre-school children show more cognitive confidence, internal locus of control, empathy

Amato (1987)

showed that primary school children and adolescents of fathers with high engagement show better self-control, self-esteem, life skills and social competency

Belsky’s model of parenting

said parenting is a dynamic system affected by parent’s own psychological well-being, social context (work, relationships, support systems) and the child’s behaviour and needs
model showed that parenting is a product of multiple interacting forces. a child’s development is the result of both direct parenting practices and indirect influences.

reinforcement

learning behaviour through praise and discipline

modelling

learn behaviour through observation

environment

influence the evnironment in which child develops

parenting style

impacts child development

Two-dimensional framework (Maccoby and Martin, 1983)

authoritative: high behavioural control, high psychological control

authoritarian: high behavioural control, low psychological control

permissive: low behavioural control, high psychological control

neglectful: low behavioural control, low psychological control

Lamborn, Mounts, Steinberg and Dorbusch (1991)

conducted a study of 15-18 year olds to complete a self-report measure of parenting: educational achievement, psychosocial development, internalised distress & problem behaviour

Findings:

authoritative parenting associated with best outcome (high academic, strong self-reliance, least problematic, better mental health and self-esteem)

neglectful parenting had worst outcomes (lowest grades, highest levels of problems, weak social skills and emotional regulation)

authoritarian parenting showed kids did okay academically but more internalising problems and less socially adept

indulgent parenting showed kids were socially confident but underperformed academically and had higher risk for some behaviour problems

Tinsley and Parke (1984)

suggested grandparents can have an effect on child development in two ways:

indirect: parental attitudes influenced by the way the parent has been brought up

direct: looking after child/surrogate parent

Johnson (1983)

suggested support and contact drops significantly with age of grandparent. role and potential importance of grandparents is increasingly changing (reflecting changes in societal structure and roles)

sibling influence

direct: can serve as social partners, role models

indirect: larger family dynamics, diluting resources

interactions with older siblings can facilitate cognitive development and emotional development (e.g., Millenium Cohort Study)

siblings allow children to experience positive and negative behaviours (Katz et al., 1992)

mediating factors for children with siblings

birth order, age gap, sex, family size, presence of disability/chronic illness, parental influence

Miller et al., 2006

said 17% of teen mothers maintian a romantic relationship with the baby’s father after the first few months following birth. compared to their peers having chilren 20 onwards, they are less likely to complete school or go to college, less likely to find stable employment and more likely to experience poverty/lower income

teen parent attachment

adolescent parents and their children more dysregulated patterns interaction, infants show more avoidant behaviour patterns

teen parent: knowledge of children’s development

often limited, tend the underestimate the rate of mental development in children, therefore assume that they only have physical needs (Brody & Sigel, 1990)

long term impacts for teen parents

being born to a teen mum was associated with poorer educational attainment, life satisfaction, and personal income (Lipman et al., 2011)

Roye and Balk, 1996

partener support is positively related with maternal psychological well-being

Cervera, 1994

85% of adolescent mothers do receive help from family members

Furey, 2004

social support improves mother-child interactions, child cognitive development

Haskett et al., 1994

another person in the home providing alternative supportive care is beneficial for the attachment between adolescent mother and her infant