Mothers with Neuroticism: Parenting When Faced with Challenges

SYNOPSIS Objective. The study documents how the personality trait of neuroticism is implicated in two aspects of parenting under two forms of challenge, low income and rearing a difficult child. Design. Relations of maternal neuroticism with sensitivity and stimulation in parenting and the total HOME score were examined when children were 54 months old and 5th grade, with a focus on how neuroticism moderates the effect of low household income and child temperament on parenting. Results. Mothers high in neuroticism were less likely to manifest sensitivity or provide stimulation. Maternal neuroticism moderated the effects of low income on sensitivity, stimulation, and the overall home environment, particularly at 54 months. However, significant interactions between maternal neuroticism and child difficult temperament were only found for the total HOME score at age 11. Conclusions. Living in adverse circumstances may make it difficult for mothers with neuroticism to engage productively in parenting.