Relationship Transitions and Maternal Parenting

Audrey Beck, Carey Cooper, Sara McLanahan and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
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Audrey Beck: Princeton University
Carey Cooper: Princeton University
Sara McLanahan: Princeton University
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn: Columbia University

No 1131, Working Papers from Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing.

Abstract: We use data from the Fragile Families Study (N=1975) to examine the relationship between mothers? partnership changes and parenting behavior during the first five years of their child?s life. We compare coresidential and dating transitions and recent and more distal transitions. We also examine interactions between transitions and race/ethnicity, maternal education and family structure at birth. Findings indicate that both coresidential and dating transitions are associated with higher levels of maternal stress and harsh parenting, with recent transitions having stronger associations than distal transitions. Maternal education significantly moderates these associations, disadvantaging children of less educated mothers in terms of maternal stress, and children of more educated mothers in terms of literacy activities.

Keywords: parenting; family instability; family structure; Fragile Families; nonmarital births (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 D60 I19 J12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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