Maternal and paternal stimulation: Mediators of parenting intervention effects on preschoolers' development

This study examined mothers' and fathers' developmentally stimulating parenting practices (i.e., engagement in play and communication activities) as mediators through which an early parenting intervention improved later cognitive and socioemotional development of 1302 4-year-old children in rural Pakistan. Maternal and paternal stimulation were both reported by the child's mother at 12, 24, and 48 months. Preschoolers' cognitive skills were directly assessed using standardized tests and socioemotional development was based on maternal ratings. Controlling for sociodemographic factors and children's prior levels of development, results revealed that both maternal and paternal stimulation significantly mediated intervention effects on children's longer-term cognitive and socioemotional development. Greater indirect effects were found through maternal than paternal stimulation. Additionally, more stimulation by one parent positively predicted later changes in his or her partner's stimulation. Implications for targeting both mothers' and fathers' parenting behaviors in early childhood interventions and further unpacking these family processes are discussed.
Source: Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology - Category: Child Development Source Type: research