Parenting Young Children: Comparison of a Psychoeducational Program in Mexico and the United States

The purpose of this study was to compare the cross-cultural effectiveness of a psychoeducational program with 82 Mexican and 63 American mothers with very young children. The 10-hour program was presented by trained facilitators in Mexico and the United States to small groups of mothers. Results showed that the both groups of mothers significantly increased their expectations and use of nurturing strategies and reduced their use of verbal and corporal punishment with their young children following the program. In addition, the reported frequency of child behavior problems decreased significantly at post-test. The similar results obtained across cultures were explained based on research finding similar parenting practices with young children between Mexican and American parents

Reconstruindo a Escala Kansas de Reflexão-Impulsividade para Pré-escolares (KRISP)

A escala Kansas de Reflexão-Impulsividade para Pré-escolares (KRISP) foi desenvolvida na década de setenta do século passado para avaliar os estilos cognoscitivos de reflexão-impulsividade (R-I). Estudos posteriores demonstraram que a KRISP apresentava algumas deficiências para avaliar os estilos de R-I em pré-escolares; porém, por não existir outro instrumento, esta escala continua sendo utilizada internacionalmente. Este estudo teve como objetivo obter uma nova versão da escala KRISP como ferramenta confiável para o estudo dos estilos de R-I. Participaram 59 crianças com uma idade média de 3.9 anos (DE = 0.39). Várias estratégias metodológicas permitiram obter uma versão da KRISP com 10 itens. A análise desta versão indicou valores alfa de Cronbach de .83 para as latências e .67 para os erros e uma correlação latência-total de erros de -.36 (p = .002). Discute-se a importância desta nova versão, denominada KRISP-R, bem como a necessidade de estudos com mostras maiores que a deste estudo e que incluam variáveis que tradicionalmente se relacionaram com os estilos de R-I.The Kansas Reflection-Impulsivity Scale for Preschoolers (KRISP) was developed in the 70's of the last century for testing the cognitive styles of reflection-impulsivity (R-I). Later, research studies pointed out some deficiencies of the KRISP as a measure of R-I styles; however, researchers are still using the KRISP, probably because it is the sole scale available to test preschoolers' styles. The aim of the present study was to develop an improved version of the scale for the assessment of R-I in preschoolers. Participants were 59 preschoolers with a mean age of 3.4 years (SD = 0.39). Several methodological strategies allowed the authors to develop a 10-itemversion of the scale. Analyses with this new version indicated alpha Cronbach coefficients of .82 for latencies and of .67 for total errors. The obtained correlation between latency and errors was -.36 (p = .002). Based on these analyses a new version of the scale, called KRISP-R, is proposed. The importance of carrying out research studies of the new scale but with bigger samples and variables that have been traditionally related with the R-I styles is also discussed.La escala Kansas de Reflexión-Impulsividad para Preescolares (KRISP) fue desarrollada en la década de los setentas del siglo pasado para evaluar los estilos cognoscitivos de reflexión-impulsividad (R-I). Estudios posteriores demostraron que la KRISP presentaba algunas deficiencias para evaluar los estilos de R-I en preescolares; sin embargo, al no existir otro instrumento, esta escala se ha seguido utilizando a nivel internacional. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo lograr una nueva versión de la escala KRISP como herramienta confiable para el estudio de los estilos de R-I. Participaron 59 niños con una edad promedio de 3.9 años (DE = 0.39). Varias estrategias metodológicas permitieron obtener una versión de la KRISP con 10 ítems. El análisis de esta versión indicó valores alfa de Cronbach de .83 para las latencias y .67 para los errores y una correlación latencia-total de errores de -.36 (p = .002). Se discute la importancia de esta nueva versión, denominada KRISP-R, así como la necesidad de estudios con muestras mayores que la de este estudio y que incluyan variables que tradicionalmente se han relacionado con los estilos de R-I

Análisis exploratorio de la percepción en niños preescolares sobre la interacción recíproca con sus madres

Objective. Although conceptual advances and empirical evidence with school-age children and adolescents suggest that children’s perceptions are relevant in understanding the reciprocal reactions between parents and children, the level of knowledge in the case of pre - school children is almost non - existent. The main objective of this study was to explore the perception of preschool children of the relationships with their mothers, and to determine whether scores were related with differences on parenting competence, as well as with other parenting factors. Method. Data were collected from 50 mothers who responded to several questionnaires and their children ( n = 50) , who answered a pictorial test of perception of the relationships with their mothers. Results. Results indicated that scores from the questionnaires were consistent with perceptions of children regarding appropriate or inappropriate interactions: for mothers on parental competence, stress, and subjective well - being, and for children on psychosocial adaptation, stress, and behavior problems; as well as with scores relating to the temperament of both. Conclusion. The results and their implications are discussed in terms of establishing coherence between conceptual advances and the empirical evidence on reciprocal interactions.Objetivo. Aunque los avances conceptuales y las evidencias empíricas con niños en edad escolar y adolescentes sugieren que las percepciones de los niños son relevantes para comprender las interacciones recíprocas padres - hijos, el estado de conocimiento es prácticamente nulo en niños preescolares. El principal objetivo de este estudio buscó explorar la percepción de niños preescolares sobre las relaciones con sus madres y analizar si los puntajes diferenciales de la percepción de los niños indican diferencias en la competencia parental, así como en otros factores que tienen relación con su crianza. Método . La muestra estuvo conformada por 50 mamás que contestaron los autorreportes y sus niños ( n = 50) que contestaron una prueba pictórica de percepción de las relaciones con sus madres. Resultados . Los resultados indicaron que las percepciones de los niños sobre las interacciones adecuadas o inadecuadas fueron congruentes con los puntajes de los cuestionarios, en particular, con la competencia parental, el estrés y el bienestar subjetivo maternos y con la adaptación psicosocial, el estrés y los problemas de comportamiento de los niños, así como con el temperamento de ambos. Conclusión . Se discuten los resultados y sus implicaciones para establecer congruencia entre el avance conceptual y las evidencias empíricas sobre las interacciones recíprocas.Escopo . Ainda que os avanços conceituais e as evidencias empíricas com crianças em idade escolar e adolescentes sugerem que as percepções das crianças são relevantes para compreender as interações recíprocas pais-filhos, o estado de conhecimento é praticamente nulo com crianças pré - escolares. O principal escopo de este estudo foi o de explorar a percepção de crianças pré - escolares sobre as relações com suas mães e analisar sim pontuações diferentes da percepção das crianças indicam diferencias na competência parental, assim como em outros fatores que tem relação com a educação. Metodologia . A mostra foi formada com 50 mães que contestaram os auto - reportes e suas crianças ( n = 50) que contestaram uma prova pictórica de percepção das relações com suas mães. Resultados . Os resultados indicaram que as percepções das crianças sobre as interações adequadas ou inadequadas foram congruentes com as pontuações dos questionários; em particular, com a competência parental, o stress e o bem-estar subjetivo maternos e com a adaptação psicossocial, o stress e os problemas de comportamento das crianças; assim como o temperamento de ambos. Conclusão. Foram discutidos os resultados e suas implicações para estabelecer congruência entre o avanço conceitual e as evidencias empíricas sobre interações recíprocas

Comparação da saúde subjetiva entre protótipos de personalidade em população geral do México

El objetivo de este estudio fue obtener prototipos de personalidad en población general de México y comparar la salud subjetiva entre ellos. En total, participaron 994 individuos de 14 a 63 años de edad. Se evaluaron cinco rasgos de personalidad (Neuroticismo, Extraversión, Apertura, Responsabilidad y Amabilidad) con el NEO-FFI, y la salud subjetiva con el GHQ-12 y una pregunta sobre el estado de salud. Para corroborar la consistencia de los prototipos se dividió la muestra en dos grupos de edad: joven (de 14 a 25 años) y maduro (de 26 a 63 años). Y como resultado se recuperaron tres prototipos en ambos grupos: las personas Resilientes -bajo neuroticismo y alto en el resto de los rasgos-, quienes tuvieron la mejor salud subjetiva; las No-Resilientes -alto neuroticismo y bajo en el resto de los rasgos-, que presentaron la peor salud subjetiva; y las personas Disciplinadas -alto en responsabilidad y promedio en los otros rasgos-, que presentaron una salud subjetiva intermedia en comparación con los otros prototipos. Finalmente, la autodisciplina y la resiliencia fueron los rasgos que discriminaron mejor la buena salud. Los hallazgos se discuten en términos de la generalización de prototipos a través de culturas.The objective of this study was to extract personality prototypes from general population of Mexico and to compare subjective health indicators between these prototypes. Participants were 994 individuals (aged 14 to 63 years). Five personality traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness) were assessed with the NEO-FFI. Subjective indicators of health (self-rated health and psychological distress) were assessed with a question regarding health status and the GHQ-12. To verify the consistency of the prototypes, the sample was divided into two age groups, young (14 to 25 years) and mature (26 to 63 years.). Three stable prototypes were recovered from both groups. Resilient individuals (low neuroticism and high in other traits) had the best subjective health; the Non-Resilient individuals (high neuroticism and low in other traits) had the worst subjective health; and Self-Disciplined individuals (high conscientiousness and medium scores in other traits) were in the middle of these extremes in subjective health. Self-discipline and resilience were most discriminative in terms of subjective health. Findings are discussed in terms of the generalization of prototypes across cultures.O objetivo deste estudo foi obter protótipos da personalidade em população geral do México e comparar a saúde subjetiva entre eles. No total, participaram 994 indivíduos de 14 a 63 anos. Avaliaram-se cinco traços de personalidade (extroversão, neuroticismo, abertura à experiência, conscienciosidade e amabilidade) com o NEO-FFI, e a saúde subjetiva com o GHQ-12, e uma pergunta sobre o estado de saúde. Para corroborar a consistência dos protótipos, dividiu-se a amostra em dois grupos de idade: jovem (de 14 a 25 anos) e adulto (de 26 a 63 anos). Como resultado, obtiveram-se três protótipos em ambos os grupos: as pessoas resilientes -baixo neuroticismo e alto nos demais traços-, os que tiveram a melhor saúde subjetiva; as não resilientes -alto neuroticismo e baixo no restante dos traços-, que apresentaram a pior saúde subjetiva, e as pessoas disciplinadas -alto em conscienciosidade e média nos outros traços-, que apresentaram uma saúde subjetiva intermediária em comparação com os outros protótipos. Finalmente, a autodisciplina e a resiliência foram os traços que melhor discriminaram a boa saúde. Os achados são discutidos em termos da generalização de protótipos através de culturas

RELACIONES ENTRE CREENCIAS Y PRÁCTICAS DE CRIANZA DE PADRES CON NIÑOS PEQUEÑOS

Most research has abandoned the attempt to establish direct associations between parenting beliefs and practices. In the present study, these relationships were assessed in a sample of 275 parents with young children. The selected instruments were specifically designed for measur-ing parenting beliefs or practices. Differences were found for parents’ gender and children’s sex. More beliefs-practices correlations were found for mothers. Beliefs-practices correlations were more similar between mothers and fathers of girls, than for those with boys. Main beliefs for mothers were: communication, parental support, role orientation, limit setting, and autonomy, and these beliefs were mainly related with disci-pline and nurturing practices. Main beliefs for fathers were: limit setting, role orientation, and parental support, and they were mainly related with discipline practices. The authors highlight the possible meanings of differ-ent relationships between parenting beliefs and practices, and argue for the inclusion of both parenting beliefs and practices in parenting research studies.La investigación ha dejado de intentar establecer relaciones entre las creencias y las prácticas de crianza. En este estudio se examinaron estas relaciones en 275 padres con niños pequeños. Se administraron dos cuestionarios específicos de creencias o de prácticas de crianza. Se encon-traron diferencias por género de los padres y sexo de los niños. Hubo más correlaciones creencias-prácticas para las mamás, y las correlaciones creen-cias-prácticas fueron semejantes entre mamás y papás de niñas, pero no de varones. Las principales creencias de las mamás fueron: comunicación, apoyo, roles, límites y autonomía, y éstas se relacionaron principalmente con las prácticas disciplinarias y de crianza. Las principales creencias de los papás fueron: límites, roles y apoyo, y éstas se relacionaron principalmente con las prácticas disciplinarias. Se enfatiza el significado de las relaciones encontradas y se discute la importancia de incluir tanto a las creencias como a las prácticas en los estudios de crianza

The contribution of mothers' subjective well-being, expectations, and parenting in children's school achievement and in the assessment of parenting involvement

Este estudio examina la contribución del bienestar, las expectativas y las actitudes de crianza maternos (BEC) al logro escolar de los niños. Su objetivo es el de explorar si estas contribuciones pueden ayudar a explicar las confusas relaciones entre la participación de los padres (PP) y el logro escolar de los niños. Participaron 621 madres y sus niños de primero, segundo y tercer grado escolar, de los cuales 322 eran de sexo femenino y 299 masculino, y estaban distribuidos de manera semejante en las cinco ciudades mexicanas de procedencia. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de conglomerados que generó dos grupos de madres con calificaciones bajas o altas en las medidas de BEC. Los grupos nombrados BEC bajo o alto, mostraron diferencias en las distribuciones de las variables socioeconómicas y, por esto, se formaron seis nuevos grupos tomando en cuenta la influencia de estas variables. Los resultados indicaron que tres factores, ingresos familiares, escolaridad materna, y BEC, estaban relacionados con el logro de los niños, pero se relacionaban pobremente con las medidas de PP. La única excepción importante fue la relación con la medida de promoción de la lectura en los niños. Los hallazgos sugieren que otros factores más que el concepto tradicional de PP tienen efectos diferenciales en el logro académico de los niños.The present study examines the contribution of mothers' well-being, parenting expectations, and parenting attitudes (BEC) to their children's school achievement. Its aim was to examine if these contributions may help to explain the unclear relationships between parenting involvement and children's school achievement. A total of 621 mothers and their children from first, second, and third grade participated in the study. In the sample of children, 322 were females and 299 were males. They were divided in five groups of similar size, each group representing a different city of origin in Mexico. Using cluster analysis, the authors found two groups of mothers with low or high scores on the measures tested. These groups, named low or high BEC, showed differences in the distributions of socioeconomic variables. Based on that finding, six new groups were formed taking into account such socioeconomic influences. It was found that three factors, family income, mothers' schooling, and BEC were related directly to children's school achievement, but they were poorly related to measures of parenting involvement, with the exception of promotion of reading in children. The findings of this study suggest that other factors rather than the traditional concept of parental involvement have differential effects on children's academic achievement

Parenting Among Mothers with Young Children in Mexico and the United States

Parenting practices and developmental expectations were examined in a sample of 138 mothers with very young children from Mexico and the United States. Mothers from both countries had completed 12 years of formal education and were similar in terms of socioeconomic and marital status. The age and sex of the focus children were similar in both samples. The Parent Behavior Checklist (PBC), a 100-item rating scale that measures parents\u27 developmental expectations and their discipline and nurturing practices, was used. Mothers in Mexico and the United States did not differ significantly in their developmental expectations or parenting practices. All mothers adapted their parenting practices to the age of the child, a finding consistent with other research