Black parenting : are Black parenting practices a reflection of circumstances?

Black and Caucasian mothers\u27 parenting was investigated using data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Study (EHSRE) 1996-2001. Four questions relevant to comparing differences in Black and Caucasian mothers\u27 parenting were asked; how do Black and Caucasian mothers compare on a) parental experiences and attitudes toward childrearing, b) responsiveness, c) degree of harshness used to discipline their children, and d) number of life stressors. Socio-cultural factors such as their age, education, single parent status, income, and occupation were also compared. The Early Head Start Interview for 3-Year Old Children was administered to mothers and one focus child. Mothers completed a 2-hour interview in the home with trained home interviewers. Based on Black and Caucasian mothers interviews and self-reports, no significant differences were found between reports of parental experiences of parental distress and reports of being victims of violent crimes. However, significant differences were found in mothers\u27 reports of a) parental experiences of negative child dysfunctional interactions, b) attitudes toward childrearing, c) responsiveness based on interviewer observations, d) discipline, e) number of life stressors mothers faced, and socio-cultural factors such as age, education, single-parent status, income, and occupation. A discussion of the findings and implications for future research are included