Abstract
Current literature suggests that African American (AA) parents may use higher levels of control and more authoritarian decision-making and disciplinary practices, but sometimes with less negative effects relative to European-American (EA) parents. Descriptive observational studies of actual limit-setting and disciplinary behaviors in AA families, however, are lacking. In this study, maternal limit-setting behaviors and patterns were observed, described, and compared in 50 AA and 66 EA mothers (ages 18-53) with their 36 month-old children. Controlling for demographic risk and children's gender, there were no ethnic differences in the distribution of maternal limit-setting patterns, and an authoritative limit-setting pattern was the most common pattern in both ethnic groups. AA and EA mothers using an authoritative pattern used firm control along with greater use of less-directive and empathic strategies such as reasoning, distractions, and sensitive support of their child's autonomy. These data provide support for the normative use of age-appropriate authoritative limit-setting in AA and EA mothers with 36 month-old children.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 275-284 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Child and Family Studies |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- African American
- Child discipline
- Cultural diversity
- Parental discipline
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Life-span and Life-course Studies
Cite this
African American and European American Mothers' Limit-Setting with Their 36 Month-Old Children. / LeCuyer, Elizabeth Anne.
In: Journal of Child and Family Studies, Vol. 23, No. 2, 02.2014, p. 275-284.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - African American and European American Mothers' Limit-Setting with Their 36 Month-Old Children
AU - LeCuyer, Elizabeth Anne
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - Current literature suggests that African American (AA) parents may use higher levels of control and more authoritarian decision-making and disciplinary practices, but sometimes with less negative effects relative to European-American (EA) parents. Descriptive observational studies of actual limit-setting and disciplinary behaviors in AA families, however, are lacking. In this study, maternal limit-setting behaviors and patterns were observed, described, and compared in 50 AA and 66 EA mothers (ages 18-53) with their 36 month-old children. Controlling for demographic risk and children's gender, there were no ethnic differences in the distribution of maternal limit-setting patterns, and an authoritative limit-setting pattern was the most common pattern in both ethnic groups. AA and EA mothers using an authoritative pattern used firm control along with greater use of less-directive and empathic strategies such as reasoning, distractions, and sensitive support of their child's autonomy. These data provide support for the normative use of age-appropriate authoritative limit-setting in AA and EA mothers with 36 month-old children.
AB - Current literature suggests that African American (AA) parents may use higher levels of control and more authoritarian decision-making and disciplinary practices, but sometimes with less negative effects relative to European-American (EA) parents. Descriptive observational studies of actual limit-setting and disciplinary behaviors in AA families, however, are lacking. In this study, maternal limit-setting behaviors and patterns were observed, described, and compared in 50 AA and 66 EA mothers (ages 18-53) with their 36 month-old children. Controlling for demographic risk and children's gender, there were no ethnic differences in the distribution of maternal limit-setting patterns, and an authoritative limit-setting pattern was the most common pattern in both ethnic groups. AA and EA mothers using an authoritative pattern used firm control along with greater use of less-directive and empathic strategies such as reasoning, distractions, and sensitive support of their child's autonomy. These data provide support for the normative use of age-appropriate authoritative limit-setting in AA and EA mothers with 36 month-old children.
KW - African American
KW - Child discipline
KW - Cultural diversity
KW - Parental discipline
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892477873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84892477873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10826-012-9690-1
DO - 10.1007/s10826-012-9690-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84892477873
VL - 23
SP - 275
EP - 284
JO - Journal of Child and Family Studies
JF - Journal of Child and Family Studies
SN - 1062-1024
IS - 2
ER -