Family processes of socializing young children’s persistence in challenging tasks among racial/ethnic diverse low-income families

This study examined how family processes related to the development of young children’s mastery motivation—specifically, their persistence in challenging tasks—vary across racial/ethnic groups in low-income families. We hypothesized that cumulative family hardships and subsequent parental distress would predict parents’ socializing behaviors (that is, autonomy supportiveness, cognitive stimulation, and intrusiveness) and, in turn, influence children’s mastery persistence. The sample was derived from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Study (N = 1,558, 51 % boys, 41 % White, 33 % Black, and 26 % Hispanic). Family circumstances were gathered at baseline, parental distress was interviewed at 24 months, and children’s persistence and parents’ socializing behaviors during challenging tasks were observed at 36 months. Results showed that, with the overall sample, the relation between cumulative family hardships and young children’s persistence was mediated through parental distress and observed parents’ cognitive stimulation. Both similarities and variations of the family process were found among the three racial/ethnic groups. Specifically, the mediating role of parental distress was identified only in Black families, but not in White or Hispanic families. Additionally, parental intrusiveness was related to low levels of child persistence only in White families, not in the other two racial/ethnic groups. The mediating roles of parents' autonomy supportiveness and cognitive stimulation were consistent across three groups. These results shed light on the importance of focusing on parents’ positive behaviors, especially cognitive stimulation, and highlighted the necessity of culturally responsive programs to help families foster their young children’s persistence in challenging tasks.