The Influence of Racial Socialization Practices on the Cognitive and Behavioral Competence of African American Preschoolers

TLDR

The study examined the link between parent racial socialization and child competence in a socioeconomically diverse sample of African American preschoolers in an urban setting. Interviews were conducted in the homes of 200 families, assessing racial socialization through parent reports and contextual observations, and measuring child outcomes with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children and the Child Behavior Checklist. Children of parents who maintained culturally rich homes scored higher on factual knowledge and problem‑solving, while those whose parents promoted pride in heritage exhibited fewer problem behaviors.

Abstract

The association between parent racial socialization and child competence was examined in a socioeconomically diverse sample of African American preschoolers living in an urban setting. Interviews were conducted in the homes of 200 families. Racial socialization was assessed by parent report as well as by observation of the sociocultural context of the home, and child outcomes were assessed using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results indicated that African American parents who provided homes that were rich in African American culture had preschool children who had greater amounts of factual knowledge and better developed problem–solving skills. African American parents who socialized their preschool children to be proud of their heritage reported fewer problem behaviors.