Profiles of Family Stressors Among Low-Income Families with Young Children

Objectives: This study examined profiles of family stressors, based on the five dimensions of the Family Stress Model (economic hardship, economic pressure, parental psychological distress, interparental relationship problems, and disrupted parenting) among low-income families with young children. We aimed to validate the model with a sample of low-income families and then to determine whether there were reliable profiles of families on the five dimensions.

Methods: Mothers completed questionnaires when children were between six and 15 months old to capture background information and 14 key indicators of the five Family Stress Model dimensions. Our analytical sample comprised 353 families that provided data for at least one key indicator. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to statistically validate the Family Stress Model, then explored distinct profiles using latent profile analyses (LPA), and examined how profile membership correlated with family characteristics.

Results: CFA model fit indices indicated a good fit of the data relative to the theoretical model. LPA revealed three distinct profiles of stressor among families, consistent with low, medium, and high patterns of stressors. Families in the high-stress profile experienced larger household numbers, higher maternal loneliness, reduced social connectedness, and higher reports of unplanned pregnancy.

Conclusions For Practice: Findings show applicability of the Family Stress Model to low-income families with young children, and indicate that these families are diverse in terms of the stressors they experience, characterized by three distinct profiles. In this regard, low-income families should not be viewed monolithically, but rather as experiencing variability in the stressors they face.