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Environmental Factors Predicting Young Children’s Secure Exploration

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Abstract

This study examined the role of parenting practices on preschoolers’ secure exploratory behaviors; specifically, the extent to which parenting practices mediate the relationship between socio-economic status, perceived neighborhood support, parental depression and children’s exploratory behaviors. The participants (n = 3268) were parents of young children (Mage = 50.82 months; 50% identified as Latinx). Structural equation models revealed that parenting practices had a positive direct association with preschoolers’ secure exploration. Parental depression had a negative association with preschoolers’ secure exploration, whereas perceived neighborhood support and socio-economic status had positive associations with secure exploration. These associations were significantly mediated through parenting practices. The results demonstrate the crucial role parents play in fostering their child’s secure exploration by providing a secure base and exploratory experiences, and can inform policy and family education programs.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board—First Things First. Points of view or opinions contained in the document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board—First Things First.

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  1. Educational Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Rebecca S. Friesen, Katherine C. Cheng, Adriana D. Cimetta & Ronald W. Marx

  2. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Christina A. Cutshaw

  3. Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    David B. Yaden

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Friesen, R.S., Cheng, K.C., Cimetta, A.D. et al. Environmental Factors Predicting Young Children’s Secure Exploration. Early Childhood Educ J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01649-1

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