http://hdl.handle.net/1903/2239 2013-05-25T13:35:50Z 2013-05-25T13:35:50Z Singer, Barbara Jones http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13535 2013-02-07T04:02:23Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: THE IMPORTANCE OF UNMARRIED RESIDENTIAL FATHERS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PRENATAL INVOLVEMENT AND BIRTH OUTCOMES Authors: Singer, Barbara Jones Abstract: Rates of low birth weight and preterm birth in the United States remain higher than those of other industrialized countries. The influence of fathers during the pregnancy period and the impact they have on birth outcomes represent under-researched areas in the field of maternal and child health. This study used nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Birth cohort (2001) to explore three lines of research. Approximately 850 children of unmarried residential fathers comprised the analytic sample. First, as several studies have used paternity acknowledgement as a proxy for paternal involvement during the pregnancy, this study tested three fatherhood constructs to determine if they were associated with whether the father's name was listed on the birth certificate. This study then examined if these fatherhood constructs were associated with low birth weight and preterm birth. Two mediating pathways were considered: change in maternal smoking during pregnancy and adequacy of prenatal care. Finally, the influence of state-level paternity establishment rates on the association between fatherhood constructs and father's name on the birth certificate was studied. The results indicated that paternal history of negative behaviors was associated with the unmarried residential father being named on the birth certificate. Furthermore, children who lived in states with high rates of paternity establishment were more likely to have their father's name on the birth certificate. Paternal prenatal involvement was associated with both an increased chance of receiving adequate prenatal care and a reduced risk of low birth weight. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was reduced when both parents wanted the pregnancy, and not reduced when the father had a history of negative behaviors. This study supports the conclusion that paternal prenatal involvement is an important area to be considered in the reduction of adverse birth outcomes. Moreover, this study adds to our understanding of some limitations of using the father's name on the birth certificate as a proxy for paternal involvement during pregnancy for unmarried residential fathers. Finally, although mediation was not evident, this study confirms the influential role that unmarried residential fathers play in maternal health behaviors.

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z Bruton, Robin Denise http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13494 2013-02-07T03:31:08Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Predictors of Positive Parenting and Use of Spanking Among Low Income, Predominantly Single, African American Mothers of Toddlers Authors: Bruton, Robin Denise Abstract: A large body of research emphasizes the key role of maternal parenting in fostering positive outcomes for children, particularly during children's early years. Given this literature, it is important to identify factors that predict positive parenting, especially in the most vulnerable populations of families with young children. Therefore, this study used secondary data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study (FFCW) to examine predictors of positive parenting and use of spanking in a sample of 1,161 low income, predominantly single, African American mothers of toddlers (mean age of 13 months). Study mothers had limited education, with 82% having a high school degree or less. An ecological risk and resilience framework was used to investigate the potential risk and protective role of four microsystem variables, including maternal education, maternal health, parenting stress, and number of children; one child characteristic, the presence or absence of a toddler with asthma; and one mesosystem factor, paternal support, in predicting the two parenting outcomes. Findings revealed that mothers engaged in many positive parenting practices and approximately one quarter (26.4%) had spanked their toddler within the previous month. Results of linear regression analysis indicated that better maternal health, lower parenting stress, more paternal support, and having a child with asthma were predictive of mothers' engagement in more positive parenting practices. Logistic regression analysis revealed that more parenting stress, lower paternal support, better maternal health, only one child in the home, and having a child without asthma predicted greater maternal use of spanking. Maternal education was not found to be a predictor of either parenting behavior. Results revealed that study mothers engaged in more nurturing and caregiving activities than learning activities with their toddlers. Overall, findings suggest that family practitioners and health care professionals should introduce culturally sensitive interventions to reduce parenting stress, increase paternal support, and improve maternal health among this population of low income mothers. Programs should continue to support mothers with asthmatic children, educate all mothers about alternatives to spanking, and encourage maternal engagement in activities that foster toddlers' cognitive development. Additional implications of the study for policymakers and program developers are discussed.

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z MOON, UI JEONG http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13073 2012-10-11T02:33:18Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: THE HOME LITERACY ENVIRONMENT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND SOCIAL SKILLS OF CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES Authors: MOON, UI JEONG Abstract: The home literacy environment has been shown to be crucial to young children's academic achievement and social skills. This study examines the longitudinal effects of home-based literacy related activities on children's academic achievement test scores and social skills from kindergarten up to 5th grade. To conduct this study, data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K), provided by the U.S. Department of Education, were utilized. Children with at least one immigrant parent were categorized according to their mother's country of origin: South America, Mexico, Caribbean/Central America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, other countries, and the U.S. (with a foreign-born father). Using a latent difference score model, parental involvement and reading activity at home were linked to children's academic achievement test scores and social skills at kindergarten, along with changes in scores between each time point. Results of analyses suggest that boys benefit more from parents' involvement at home than do girls. Both boys' and girls' independent reading appear to be strongly linked to developing strong reading and math skills. More parental involvement and their independent reading benefited boys' self-control and interpersonal skills, but it did not have that benefit for girls. In addition, there were substantial differences in the effects of parental involvement and children's reading activity on children depending on mother's country of origin. The reading and math score of children of East Asian and Southeast Asian mothers benefited from their independent reading activity, whereas the scores of children of Latin-origin mothers benefited from both parental involvement at home and reading activity. For children of Mexican and Caribbean/Central American descent, especially, parental involvement had a continuing significant effect on math and reading scores up to 5th grade. Similarly, compared to other immigrant groups, the social skills of Latin American-origin boys were influenced more by parental involvement at home, and those of Southeast Asian-origin boys were influenced more by reading time at home.

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z Rivero, Stephanie Christine http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13031 2012-10-11T02:33:12Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL PARTNER AGGRESSION AND DEPRESSION: SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A MODERATING VARIABLE Authors: Rivero, Stephanie Christine Abstract: The association between psychological aggression within heterosexual couples and the level of depression symptoms was explored in addition to whether or not that association was moderated by the level of perceived social support from friends. Secondary analyses were conducted on assessment data from both males and females in 406 heterosexual couples who sought conjoint therapy at the Center for Healthy Families, a university-based marriage and family therapy clinic. Psychological aggression was assessed using the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse Scale (MMEA; Murphy and Hoover, 1999); depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996); and social support was assessed using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSS; Procidano & Heller, 1983). Findings support the hypothesis that the more psychological aggression the individual received, the higher their symptoms of depression were; however there was not a significant finding that social support served as a moderator of that association. Furthermore, there were no significant findings for the research questions, which addressed gender-based differences in the degree to which social support moderates the effects of depression and psychological aggression.

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z