Search Results

Results: Records of 1351 children aged 4-12 years were examined: 837 resided in dayshift households, 36 in split shift households, 13 in night shift households [excluded due to small sample size], and 481 in discordant workshift households. Bivariate analysis revealed an association between maternal report that behavior requires counseling and households in which both parents work split shifts, compared to discordant workshift households and dayshift households (9.4% vs. 2.7% vs.3.4%, respectively; p<0.05). This association was maintained in multivariate models, which revealed that mothers of children in split shift households were three times more likely to report behavior problems(OR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.2-7.9) than mothers in comparison groups. This independent association was stronger than male sex of child (OR=1.6, 95%CI: 1.1-2.6) and household size (OR=.52, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9), which were the only other variables to predict the outcome of interest. Workshift variables were not significant in the models that examined extreme BPI scores or pharmacologic treatment of ADHD.

Conclusions: Mothers of children who reside in households in which both parents work split shifts are more likely to report behavior problems. Additional studies are needed to determine whether disruption of household sleep patterns is the causal mechanism for this association.

METHODS. Data from 884 white, 538 black, and 404 Latino families with children who were 6 to 9 years of age in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were analyzed. The outcome, child behavioral problems, was measured using the Behavior Problems Index externalizing and internalizing subscales. The effects of chronic poverty, neighborhood, maternal depression, and parenting on the outcome were analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling.

RESULTS. Chronic poverty affected child behavioral problems indirectly through the other variables, and parenting practices had direct effects in each racial/ethnic group. The effects of maternal depression were partially mediated through parenting in the white and Latino samples but were direct and unmediated through parenting practices in the black sample. Neighborhood effects were present in the white and black samples but were not significant for the Latino sample.

CONCLUSIONS. Chronic poverty, neighborhood, maternal depression, and parenting practices have effects on child behavioral problems in white, black, and Latino children, but the processes and mechanisms through which they exert their effects differ among the groups. The differences may be related to social stratification mechanisms as well as sociocultural differences in family and childrearing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DESIGN/METHODS: Data from 884 EA, 538 AA and 404 L families with a child 6-9 y enrolled in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Outcome variable: internalizing and externalizing child behavior problems (Behavior Problems Index). Predictor variables: 1) chronic poverty (> 50% of child's life), 2) maternal depression (CESD), 3) parenting/home environment (HOME-SF), 4) social capital/neighborhood characteristics. A structural equation model (SEM) was developed to define the hypothesized direct and indirect effects of predictor variables on child behavior problems. Multiple group SEM compared effects of predictor variables in the 3 racial/ethnic groups

RESULTS: Effects of chronic poverty on behavior problems were fully mediated through parenting, maternal depression and neighborhood in EA and AA, and through parenting and mat. depression in L families. Maternal depression had direct effects on behavior problems in AA families, and partially mediated effects through parenting in EA and L. Neighborhood/social capital had direct and indirect effects (through parenting) on behavior problems in EA and AA, but had no significantly effect in the L group.

CONCLUSIONS: The processes and mechanisms through which maternal depression, chronic poverty, neighborhood, and parenting influence child behavioral problems differ in different racial/ethnic groups. Culturally normative beliefs and practices, as well as social/structural issues may explain some of these findings. Approaches to intervention need to take into account these differences.