The role of parenting in autonomy and executive function development among young children experiencing homelessness

Abstract

A large body of research has shown homelessness is a risk factor for academic difficulties. However, some children experiencing homelessness begin kindergarten well-prepared and continue to succeed; this variability has motivated a search for protective factors supporting academic achievement in the context of homelessness. Two such factors might be children’s autonomy and executive function (EF), which allow children to take control of their own learning. The current study examined links between autonomy and EF skills, as well as the role of parenting in their development among young children experiencing homelessness. Participants included 78 parents and their children (M_age = 53 months) residing in emergency housing. Children were given an autonomy assessment and both cool and hot EF tasks; parent–child dyads completed a problem-solving task to measure autonomy-supportive parenting. Results indicated that child autonomy was significantly correlated with both cool and hot EF. Cool EF was related to academic skills. Autonomy-supportive parenting was significantly linked only to children’s cool EF above and beyond parental warmth, suggesting this dimension of parenting may play a unique role in the development of cool EF in the context of homelessness.