Family Socioeconomic Status and Young Children’s Social Competence The Mediating Role of Maternal Parenting Stress

Abstract

Objective: To examine how family socioeconomic status (SES), maternal parenting stress, and young children’s social competence and problem behaviours are interrelated. Methods: Six-hundred-twenty-seven mothers of 3- to 6-year-olds completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), the Social Competence and Behaviour Evaluation-30 (SCBE-30), and a family SES questionnaire. Results: (1) SES positively predicted children’s social competence (β = 0.187, p < 0.01) and negatively predicted internalising and externalising problems (β = –0.117, p < 0.01; β = –0.10, p < 0.05). (2) Parenting distress and parent–child dysfunctional interaction partially mediated the SES → competence path (25.6 % and 27.6 % of total effects, respectively) and fully mediated the SES → problem-behaviour paths (79.4 %, 68 %, and 96.3 %). Conclusions: SES influences young children’s social development not only directly but also entirely through its impact on maternal parenting stress. Implications for parent-support interventions are discussed.