Determinants of Disciplinary Practices in Low-Income Black Mothers

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1992.tb01647.x
• Publication Date: 2006-07-03T22:32:29Z
• Authors: Michelle L. Kelley; Thomas G. Power; Dawn D. Wimbush
• Keywords: Male; Parenting; Socialization; 05 social sciences; 1. No poverty; Mothers; Social Environment; Black or African American; Child Rearing; 5. Gender equality; Child, Preschool; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Cooperative Behavior; Child; 10. No inequality; Internal-External Control

Disciplinary attitudes and practices of low-income black mothers were examined. Mothers were interviewed about their parenting attitudes and control practices, and their responses were coded in terms of the degree to which they took a parent-versus a child-oriented approach to discipline. Mothers in the sample varied widely in their attitudes toward physical punishment, and mothers who used power-assertive techniques were as likely to take the child's perspective and give input into the socialization process as those who did not. Factors associated with maternal disciplinary styles included: maternal education, father absence, maternal age, and self-reported religious beliefs. Findings are discussed in terms of the variability in disciplinary practices in this population, as well as the factors contributing to these individual differences.