Why Parenting Attitudes Matter for Low-Income Families: Evidence from a Longitudinal Transactional Study

Despite the known associations between low-income families and children’s adjustment outcomes, less is known about how parenting attitudes may serve as a protective factor. Following a subsample of children from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 829) from 54 months of age through 5th Grade, this study investigates the buffering effects of progressive parenting attitudes on children’s academic and social skills in the context of low-income families. Research Findings: There are three sets of major findings. First, parenting attitudes demonstrated more stability than change across time. Second, low-income status is associated with children’s development, but mainly through the stability of parental sensitivity. Third, low income was not associated with low maternal sensitivity when parents endorsed more progressive parenting attitudes; similarly, when parents endorsed more progressive parenting attitudes, low parental sensitivity in low-income families was not associated with academic achievement among children. Practice or Policy: Overall, findings highlight the potential role of parenting attitudes in protecting children from the negative effects of low-income status.