Work

Parenting Attitudes, Family Environments, Depression, and Anxiety in Caregivers of Maltreated Children

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated parenting attitudes, family environments, depression, and anxiety in a sample of primarily minority urban mothers to better understand maltreating mothers (n = 83), who retain custody of their children and how they are similar to and different from foster mothers (n = 50), kin caregivers (n = 52) of maltreated children, and comparison mothers (n = 100) from the same communities. Maltreating mothers were distinguished by their much higher levels of depression and anxiety from other mothers. In addition, like foster mothers, maltreating mothers were less likely to approve of corporal punishment. Foster mothers were higher in organization and lower in empathy than other groups. There were no differences by race/ethnicity on study dimensions. Higher education, however, was related to more favorable parenting attitudes and family environments. Practice implications related to appropriate services are suggested.

Source: Family Relations

DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00646.x

Authors: Ferol E. Mennen, Penelope K. Trickett

Institution: University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Child Welfare and Adoption

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development