ABSTRACT

Attachment theory posits that parenting plays akey role in children’s attachment and subsequent development. Given the normativity of racial discrimination on everyday life experiences of African American families, there is a need to integrate historical and socio-environmental processes in studies to understand how minoritized parents raise secure and stable children. Results from the current study revealed direct associations between mothers’ reports of discrimination and heightened depression and anxiety. Maternal discriminatory experiences were indirectly associated with more negative parenting and compromised parent-child relationship quality, through mothers’ psychological functioning. Elevated emotional and behavioral management problems among youth were directly associated with exposure to racial discrimination. Exposure to discrimination during middle childhood facilitated adapted or learned strategies to manage similar situations as youth transitioned into adolescence, with reduced patterns of depressive symptomology. No significant gender effects emerged. Implications for theoretical advancement and future research are provided.

摘要

依恋理论认为，养育子女在孩子的依恋和后续发展中起着关键作用。鉴于种族歧视对非裔美国人家庭日常生活经历的规范性，有必要将历史和社会环境过程纳入研究，以了解少数族裔父母如何养育安全稳定的孩子。当前研究的结果显示，母亲的歧视报告与抑郁和焦虑加剧之间存在直接关联。通过母亲的心理功能，母亲的歧视经历与更消极的养育方式和亲子关系质量间接相关。青少年情绪和行为管理问题的增加与种族歧视的暴露直接相关。在童年中期遭受歧视有助于适应或学习策略来管理青年过渡到青春期时的类似情况，减少抑郁症状的模式。没有出现显着的性别影响。提供了对理论进步和未来研究的启示。