Effects of the Interaction of Parenting Practices and Environment on Children’s Outcomes

Dear Colleagues,

Parenting is context-dependent [1] and can influence developmental trajectories across the lifespan [2]. There is a burgeoning body of literature that has demonstrated how parenting practices in ethnic minority populations are linked to psychosocial and academic outcomes [3–5]. Moreover, theoretical and conceptual frameworks have indicated that various environments can shape aspects of parenting and parenting practices [6–8]. This Special Issue welcomes contributions including but not limited to empirical and applied research, various methodological approaches (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods), theoretical/conceptual frameworks on parenting, and intervention or prevention research. Primarily, we are interested in parenting/parenting practices in relation to various contexts (e.g., culture, discrimination, schools, neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces) that focus on either academic (e.g., achievement, motivation, and belonging) or psychosocial outcomes (e.g., identity, mental health, and attachment). Furthermore, we are also interested in intergenerational processes; thus, studies can include outcomes of parenting practices for children, adolescents, and adults to help broaden the topic of interest. This Special Issue aspires to broaden the field of knowledge on parenting from diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Therefore, we welcome both theoretical and empirical contributions to the field. 

References

1. Belsky, J. The determinants of parenting: A process model. In Child Development; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 1984; pp. 83–96.
2. Holden, G.W. Childrearing and developmental trajectories: Positive pathways, off‐ramps, and dynamic processes. Child Dev. Perspect. 2010, 4(3), 197–204.
3. Pinquart, M.; Kauser, R. Do the associations of parenting styles with behavior problems and academic achievement vary by culture? Results from a meta-analysis.  Divers. Ethn. Minor. Psychol. 2018, 24(1), 75.
4. Umaña‐Taylor, A.J.; Hill, N.E. Ethnic–racial socialization in the family: A decade's advance on precursors and outcomes. Marriage Fam. 2020, 82(1), 244–271.
5. Wang, M.T.; Henry, D.A.; Smith, L.V.; Huguley, J.P.; Guo, J. Parental ethnic-racial socialization practices and children of color’s psychosocial and behavioral adjustment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.  Psychol. 2020, 75(1), 1.
6. Bronfenbrenner, U. The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design; Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 1979.
7. Coll, C.G.; Crnic, K.; Lamberty, G.; Wasik, B.H.; Jenkins, R.; Garcia, H.V.; McAdoo, H.P. An integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children. Child Dev. 1996, 67(5), 1891–1914.
8. Murry, V.M.; Lippold, M.A. Parenting practices in diverse family structures: Examination of adolescents’ development and adjustment. J. Res. Adolesc. 2018, 28(3), 650–664.

Dr. Meeta Banerjee
Dr. Fatima A. Varner
Guest Editors

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• parenting
• ethnic minority populations
• culture
• schools
• neighborhoods
• communities
• academic outcomes
• psychosocial outcomes

Title: Examining the Effects of Family and Acculturative Stress on Mexican American Parents as Predictors of Child Behavioral Health Functioning: The Protective Nature of Family Cohesion
Author: Gonzalez-Detrés
Highlights: The present study contributes to the existing literature on acculturative stress by: 1) identifying the longitudinal pathways by which it impacts children’s anxiety and depression 2) demonstrating the effect in mothers and fathers alike, and 3) highlighting important protective factors, such as family cohesion, that may be elevated to promote parenting practices in Latino families.

Title: The Impact of Place on Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices and Adolescent Identity among Latine Families in New Destination Contexts
Author: Goldstein
Highlights: Latine families' ethnic-racial socialization practices and adolescents' identity are influenced by their neighborhoods and activity spaces. Co-ethnic presence impacts the effectiveness of cultural assets in new destination contexts. Preliminary findings reveal the interaction between connectedness and gender role socialization on public regard, and the predictive role of shared activity space, ethnic-racial socialization, and gender role socialization on private regard.

Title: Associations of Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality with Youth Symptoms Amidst COVID-19
Author: Lobo
Highlights: For adolescents, COVID-19 stress was positively associated with concurrent anxiety symptoms when youth reported lower negative parent-adolescent relationship quality. At higher levels of negative parent-adolescent relationship quality, youth discrimination experiences were positively associated with concurrent anxiety symptoms. At higher levels of positive and negative parent-adolescent relationship quality, more COVID-19 positive events were associated with lower depressive symptoms six months later.

Title: The Influence of Racial Socialization Competency on Parental Discrimination and Child Behavioral Problems
Author: Simon
Highlights: - Greater reports of racial discrimination from Black parents is directly associated with more problem behaviors among their children. - Black parents that experience a great deal of racial discrimination in their day-to-day lives and lack confidence in delivering Racial Socialization messages to their children report seeing more problems in their behavior.

Title: The Contextualized Impact of Ethnic-Racial Socialization on Black and Latino Youth’s Self-Esteem and Racial-Ethnic Identity
Author: McDonald
Highlights: Neighborhood cohesion decreased preparation for bias beliefs, subsequently increasing cultural socialization and, consequently, youth's private regard and centrality. Decreased neighborhood cohesion decreased egalitarianism, increasing youth's self-esteem. Neighborhood cohesion association with centrality through preparation for bias beliefs differed in direction among Black and Latino youth, as did association of neighborhood diversity on private regard through promotion of mistrust beliefs.

Title: Black mother-daughter attachment across the lifespan: An intergenerational exploration of Black mothers’ disciplinary experiences during childhood and their current mothering practices
Author: Leath
Highlights: Black mothers are a heterogenous group who use many positive and supportive discipline strategies with their children. Open communication and emotional connection are an important component of mother-daughter attachment in adulthood. Intergenerational continuity in maternal discipline strategies seems to involve cognitive and affective alignment between Black mothers and daughters in their parenting approaches.

Title: The role of parental self-efficacy in the asociation between school context and mental health.
Author: Varner
Highlights: There were significant indirect effects between school climate and adolescents’ mental health through parental self-efficacy and maternal mental health. Parental self-efficacy was not found to moderate the relationship between school climate and maternal mental health. Adolescents’ discrimination experiences did not influence parental self-efficacy but were related to both maternal and adolescent mental health.

Title: Familial Stressors on STEM students’ motivation to remain in their major
Author: Glover
Highlights: Multifaceted familial adversity financial contributions to family associated with lower motivation Family-related reasons for major have a mixed bag of associations with motivation

Title: Out of the Mouths of Babes: Black Children’s Experiences of Emotion-focused Racial-Ethnic Socialization, Co**, and Antiracist Resistance
Author: Smith
Highlights: This paper highlights racial-ethnic socialization and emotion-focused co** with discrimination in middle childhood, an understudied period of identity development. This ethnographic study centers the voices of Black children regarding their experiences of parenting, socialization processes, and identity, critical insights that should be considered in develo** supportive programs, practices, and policies for Black families in the contexts of racism and discrimination.

Title: Contextualizing “The Hustle”: Black Parents' and Caregivers' Socialization Practices Around Success, Money, Work, and Education
Author: Dwanyen
Highlights: Themes 1) The sky is the limit - affirming potential; inspiring children to pursue dreams 2) Realities - conveying success requires hard(er) work; anticipating adversity 3) Education opens doors - promoting as foundational to opportunities 4) Degree-seeking - encouraging high school/college degree 5) Managing finances - teaching value of money (spending, saving) 6) Wealth-building - encouraging income-generation(entrepreneurship, "hustle")

Title: Cultural Transmission: Understanding the Processes of Ethnic/Racial Socialization In Ethnic Minority Parents
Author: Houston-Dial
Highlights: - ERS varied by ethnic-racial group membership - Dimensions of ethic-racial identity mediated the relationship between parent memories of ERS and current endorsement of ERS messages