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Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Supportive parenting, Ecological Context, and Children's Adjustment: A seven-Year Longitudianl Study
Gregory S Pettit1, John E Bates1, Kenneth A Dodge1
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Marion Walker Spidle Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849The Department of Psychology, Indiana UniversityThe Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University.
Abstract:
Two major questions regarding the possible impact of early supportive parenting (SP) on children's school adjustment were addressed:(1) Does SP assessed prekindergarten predict grade 6 adjustment after controlling for early barsh parenting (HP)? (2) Does SP moderate (buffer) the impact of early family adversity on grade 6 adjustment? Parenting and family adversity data were drawn from home-visit interviews with 585 mothers conducted prekindergarten. Four SP measure were derived: mother-to-child warmth, proactive teaching, inductive discipline, and positive involvement. HP was indexed as the use of harsh, physical disciple. Family adversity indicators were socioeconomic disadvantage, family stress, and single parenthood. Children 's adjustment (behavior problems, social skills, and academic performance) in kindergarten and grade 6 was assessedvia teacher ratings and school records. SP predicted adjustment in grade 6, even after controlling for kindergarten adjustment and HP. High levels of SP mitigated the effects of family adversity on later behavior problems. These findings implicate both direct (main effect)and indirect (moderator of adversity) processes in the linkage between positive and supportive aspects of parenting and children's school adjustment.
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