Early Motherhood and Harsh Parenting: The Role of Human, Social, and Cultural Capital

• NCJ Number: 228650
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 625-637
• Author(s): Yookyong Lee
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 HD36916; R01 HD39135; R01 HD40421
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the role of maternal human, social, and cultural capital in the relationship between early motherhood and harsh parenting behavior.

Abstract

Results from this study support findings from previous studies that adolescent mothers are at higher risk for physical child abuse. This pattern of findings indicates that untimely, early childbearing is a significant risk factor for harsh parenting behavior. In addition, the findings suggest that the prevention of adolescent motherhood must be a priority for professionals working with youth. For years, researchers have asked whether adolescent mothers are more likely to maltreat their children than older mothers. Much research has focused on and identified the link between human capital related characteristics, such as education, income, mental, and physical health and risk or protective factors for physical child abuse/harsh parenting behavior among adolescent mothers. However, few studies such as this study have examined how parenting behavior might be determined when human, social, and cultural capital is considered in combination. Data were used from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) study. Tables and references