Intergenerational Transmission of Maladaptive Parenting Strategies in Families of Adolescent Mothers: Effects from Grandmothers to Young Children

Danielle M. Seay, Laudan B. Jahromi, Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Kimberly Updegraff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current longitudinal study examined the effect of the transmission of maladaptive parenting strategies from grandmothers to adolescent mothers on children’s subsequent development. Mexican-origin adolescent mothers (N = 204) participated in home interviews when the adolescent’s child (89 boys, 60 girls) was 2, 3, 4, and 5 years old. Grandmothers’ psychological control toward the adolescent mother was positively related to adolescents’ potential for abuse 1 year later, which was subsequently positively related to adolescents’ punitive discipline toward their young child. In addition, adolescent mothers’ punitive discipline subsequently predicted greater externalizing problems and less committed compliance among their children. Adolescent mothers’ potential for abuse and punitive discipline mediated the effects of grandmothers’ psychological control on children’s externalizing problems. Finally, adolescent mothers’ potential for abuse mediated the effect of grandmothers’ psychological control on adolescent mothers’ punitive discipline. Results highlight the salience of long-term intergenerational effects of maladaptive parenting on children’s behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1097-1109
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016

Keywords

  • Adolescent mothers
  • Compliance
  • Externalizing behavior
  • Intergenerational issues
  • Mexican American families
  • Parenting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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