DOES NEIGHBORHOOD AND FAMILY POVERTY AFFECT MOTHERS PARENTING, MENTAL-HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

The effects of neighborhood and family poverty and other components of socioeconomic status on maternal psychological and behavioral charact eristics are estimated using data from an eight-site study of 3-year-o lds and their mothers (n = 895). Three measures of the home environmen t (physical environment, provision of learning experiences, and warmth of the mother) and three maternal characteristics (depression, social support, and coping) were assessed. Neighborhood poverty (proportion of neighbors with incomes less than $10,000) was associated with a poo rer home physical environment and with less maternal warmth, controlli ng for family conditions. The home environment also was adversely affe cted by family poverty, large household size, female headship, and low maternal education, although the largest effects were evidenced for f amily poverty. Of the maternal characteristics, social support was adv ersely affected by family poverty and female headship status, while ac tive coping was positively associated with mother's education.