THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILY STRUCTURE AND MOTHERING BEHAVIOR WITHIN RACE AND ETHNIC GROUPS

Parental socialization is one pathway through which family structure affects child well-being. Because of this established link, it is important to understand the relationship between family structure and a mother’s behaviors with her children. Theory posits that family structure affects mothering behaviors through its effect on economic resources and emotional support from the mother’s partner. Mothers who are married to their child’s biological father presumably have access to the highest levels of economic resources and emotional support. These factors, in turn, reduce her levels of maternal stress and allow the mother to be a better parent. The empirical evidence linking family structure to mothering is somewhat mixed, but generally finds that stable marriages are related to better parenting.