Dispositional Optimism: a Psychological Resource for Mexican-origin Mothers Experiencing Economic Stress

Overview

Journal J Fam Psychol

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialty Psychology

Date 2011 Dec 29

PMID 22201249

Citations 20

Authors

Zoe E Taylor

Keith F Widaman

Richard W Robins

Rachel Jochem

Dawnte R Early

Rand D Conger

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Dispositional optimism is believed to be an important psychological resource that buffers families against the deleterious consequences of economic adversity. Using data from a longitudinal study of Mexican-origin families (N = 674), we tested a family stress model specifying that maternal dispositional optimism and economic pressure affect maternal internalizing symptoms, which, in turn, affects parenting behaviors and children's social adjustment. As predicted, maternal optimism and economic pressure had both independent and interactive effects on maternal internalizing symptoms, and the effects of these variables on changes over time in child social adjustment were mediated by nurturant and involved parenting. The findings replicate and extend previous research on single-parent African American families (Taylor, Larsen-Rife, Conger, Widaman, & Cutrona, 2010), and demonstrate the generalizability of the positive benefits of dispositional optimism in another ethnic group and type of family structure.

Citing Articles

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