Mothers reported high levels of parent satisfaction and high levels of parent success. Mothers also described high levels of social support from friends and family. A minimal relationship was found between social support and parenting. Results also indicate a stronger relationship between support from family and parenting. For low-income African American single moms, social support is seen as a mechanism that gives them the capacity to adapt to economic and social pressures exerted upon them as they struggle to meet the physical, emotional, moral, and intellectual needs of family members. Through family members and friendships many African American single mothers are pro- vided social support intended to meet their material and/or emotional needs . Specific forms of concrete or material support include assistance with housing (a place of residence, or assistance with rent or mortgage payment), a primary source once with household tasks (e.g., meal preparation, cleaning) and financial loans . Emotional support includes the provision of emotional aid such as esteem enhancement, symp...
Their ethnographic study included about 162 women. The sample was limited to mothers making less than $16,000 per year, placing them under the federal poverty line. All the women lived in neighborhoods where at least twenty percent were poor. Each had at least one child under eighteen living at home. They also were classified single mothers, though few actually maintained their own household. They ranged in age from fifteen to fifty-six, with an average of twenty five years of age. Forty-five percent had no high school diploma, but fifteen percent had a GED. Of these women, forty percent worked low income service jobs. The authors had informal interactions with the wome...
Parents who are supported in their caregiving role are better able to nurture their children, who have a better chance to grow up to be productive, contributing members of society. Research has demonstrated that programs such as parenting education, support groups, and home visiting are effective and produce positive, significant results for parents and their children. (p. 75)
Schaffer, M.A. & Lia-Hoagberg, B. (1997). Effects of social support on prenatal care and health
"African American Communities and Mental Health." Mental Health America. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. .
A study called “Accelerating Recovery from Poverty: Prevention Effects for Recently Separated Mothers” studies how divorced mothers are best kept out poverty. The researchers tried to see how these mothers fared financially by having one group that went to intervention groups and one that did not. They found that women who attended the intervention sessions were better able to rise out of poverty than those who did not (Forgatch & DeGarmo, 2007). It was also reported that the intervention lead to an increase in the income-to-needs ratio and a decrease in the mother’s stress (Forgatch & DeGarmo,
There have been many studies done on depression in females after they have given birth, but very few that explain how poorer African American females feel about different types of treatment (Goodman, Dimidjian, & Williams, 2013). African American females that live at or below poverty level are less likely to receive mediation for depression after birthing a child or to partake in pre-emptive help than any other ethnic group (Goodman, Dimidjian, & Williams, 2013). Pregnant African American women’s attitudes toward perinatal depression prevention a study completed by Sherryl Goodman, Sona Dimidjian, and Kristen Williams was designed to find out the attitudes of these women towards services that reduce or prevent depression so that they could improve treatment among this group of individuals (Goodman, Dimidjian, & Williams, 2013).
The Natural Support of African Americans in poverty is to lower food bills in families by cooking instead of buying fast foods. The culture of poverty “is perceived to be a worldview and ethos contributing to poor people staying in poverty.” (Rogers, 131) it is seen as people who are in poverty are the connection of their offspring who seem to also have a difficult time to move up higher in society. “Children learn from their parents that laziness is a way of life, as is receiving food stamps every month; children never gain the motivation to work their way...
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2014 African Americans held the highest poverty rate of 26%, with Hispanics holding the second highest rate at 24% (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor, 2015). When comparing this to the poverty rates of Whites at 10% and Asians at 12% in 2014, we see that in America, racial and ethnic minorities are more vulnerable to experiencing poverty (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor, 2015). In addition, discrimination is seen between genders among those living in poverty. Family households of a single adult are more likely to be headed by women and are also at a greater risk for poverty (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor, 2015). In 2014, 30.6% of households headed by a single woman were living below the poverty line compared to 15.7% for households headed by a single male (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor, 2015). Many factors such as poor wages for women, pregnancy associations, and the increase of single-woman parented families have impacted the increase of women in poverty. Children are most harshly affected by poverty because for them the risks are compounded, as they lack the defenses and supports needed to combat the toxicity surrounding them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 21% of all U.S. children (73.6 million children) under 18 years old lived in poverty in 2014 (DeNavas-Walt & Proctor,
Numerous studies have been conducted that indicate mothers with depression prior to birth and after birth can affect infant development. These include cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional aspects. This paper will be examining two articles with similar methodologies and various responses displayed in the participants. Both articles take on similar approaches; however, one article examines how less-competent mothers with depression, negatively influences child behavior and the latter takes on the approach that maternal depression is a psychological response to economic pressures leading to negative responses to a child (Newland, Crnic, Cox & Mills-Koonce, 2013, p. 96). Wang and Dix (2013) examine the levels of depression and differences of behavior in depressed mothers and how this further influences a child’s development. This article found that children with depressed mothers that are highly competent and are able to do tasks efficiently and successfully may develop just as well as children with non-depressed mothers (Wang and Dix., 2013, p. 893). Alternatively, another article examines a variety of maternal psychological symptoms arising from early economic pressures and later parenting behaviors (Newland et al., 2013, p. 96). Furthermore, Newland et al. (2013) suggests that as a result of lower socioeconomic status, both depression and anxiety play a negative role in parenting behaviors (p. 96). Overall, this study suggests that economic hardships and pressures have an indirect influence on parents’ caregiving.
Every family is unique in dynamic and nature. Parenting styles within families vary depending on circumstance and principal. What defines parenting styles is the approach that parents take on raising their children and the psychological and social effects it has on their child’s development. These parenting techniques influence the child’s lifestyle and beliefs throughout their life and have lasting effects on the child’s adulthood. In the research article Child self-esteem and different parenting styles of mother’s: cross-sectional study discusses that “Parenting style refers to the practices adopted by parents during their children’s growth and socialization stages and how the children are controlled.” Developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind
Dickerson, Bette J. 1995. African American Single Mothers: Understanding their lives and Families. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks.
This research paper will explore primarily the impact of African American single-parent households on the children that live in these environments. This is a very important issue and more awareness is needed. Research has provided evidence that single-parent households are one of many risk factors that can negatively affect a child’s educational outcome, emotional health and social behavior. Although not all single-parent family households have disadvantages, the focus of his study is to shed more light on the issues and offer solutions. For example, more policies are needed to reinforce fathers to pay child support. This alone will provide mothers with more money to help them better raise their children.
Social support refers to the informative, instrumental or emotional care offered to an individual by close family members, relatives or friends to boost coping mechanisms during early adulthood such as self-esteem and measures of stress management. Social support is imperative in determining the well-being of all people for it shapes the physical health and the mental health of each (Santrock 8). Various studies demonstrate that social support plays a crucial role in coping mechanisms during early childhood. Social support is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a healthy psychological status. On the other hand, a good social support has many
28% of kids in America lived with one parent in 2013 (“Single Parenthood”). Adolescents in these homes have a higher chance of showing behavior issues, being in poverty, and having a lack of food (Link). They are also more likely to take drugs, have sex earlier than their peers, and be abused (Lauer, 2012). Though, it should be well-noted that these are extreme cases that do not apply to many single-parent kids. Personally, I cannot relate to the severe challenges of other children in my situation, but through my mom, I can relate to the challenges of single parents. She has had the hard luck of raising me on her own for eighteen years without child support, and I have seen her suffer through the three kinds of overload, sometimes all at once. Due to her willingness to be strong, we persevered through our harsh times, and I hope to someday repay her back for all she has given
... reflected with the likelihood the father is involved and spend time with their children and to have children who are psychologically and emotionally healthier (Parke). Also the mother and father is more responsive, affectionate, and confident with their infants; better know how in dealing with defiant toddlers; and better advising, connecting, and providing emotional support to their teenagers (Parke). Studies have shown children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. For instance, a study shows that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their children tend to have children with higher IQs, better linguistic and cognitive capacities (Parke). Lastly, the children through their adulthood are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling better than children with less involved fathers (Parke).