Parkes, A. , Sweeting, H. and Wight, D. (2015) Parenting stress and parent support among mothers with high and low education. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(6), pp. 907-918. (doi: 10.1037/fam0000129) (PMID:26192130) (PMCID:PMC4671474)
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Abstract
Current theorising and evidence suggest that parenting stress might be greater among parents from both low and high socio-economic positions (SEP), compared to those from intermediate levels; due to material hardship among parents of low SEP, and to employment demands among parents of high SEP. However, little is known about how this socio-economic variation in stress relates to the support that parents receive. This study explored whether variation in maternal parenting stress in a population sample was associated with support deficits. In order to obtain a clearer understanding of support deficits among high-and low-educated mothers, subgroups were distinguished according to mothers’ migrant and single parent status. Participants were 5865 mothers from the Growing Up in Scotland study, interviewed when their child was 10 months old. Parenting stress was greater among mothers with either high or low education than among mothers with intermediate education, although it was highest for those with low education. Support deficits accounted for around 50% of higher stress among high-and low-educated groups. Less frequent grandparent contact mediated parenting stress among both high- and low-educated mothers, particularly migrants. Aside from this common feature, different aspects of support were relevant for high- compared with low-educated mothers. For high-educated mothers, reliance on formal childcare and less frequent support from friends mediated higher stress. Among low-educated mothers, smaller grandparent and friend networks and barriers to professional parent support mediated higher stress. Implications of differing support deficits are discussed.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Wight, Professor Daniel and Parkes, Dr Alison and Sweeting, Dr Helen |
Authors: | Parkes, A., Sweeting, H., and Wight, D. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
Journal Name: | Journal of Family Psychology |
Publisher: | American Psychological Association |
ISSN: | 0893-3200 |
ISSN (Online): | 1939-1293 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2015 The Authors |
First Published: | First Published in Journal of Family Psychology 29(6):907-918 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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