Determinants of Disciplinary Practices in Low-Income Black Mothers

TLDR

The study examined disciplinary attitudes and practices among low‑income Black mothers. Researchers interviewed mothers and coded their responses to assess parent‑versus child‑oriented disciplinary approaches. Mothers varied widely in attitudes toward physical punishment, with power‑assertive parents equally likely to adopt a child‑oriented perspective, and disciplinary styles were linked to maternal education, father absence, age, and religious beliefs.

Abstract

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.