Families with young children: A review of research in the 1990s

Research conducted in the past decade on families with young children conce ntrated on 5 broad topics: (a) the transition to parenthood; (b) the import ance of maternal sensitivity for children's attachment security and subsequ ent adjustment and social competence; (c) the effectiveness of particular p arenting styles and practices; (d) interparental, familial, and broader soc ietal factors influencing parenting behaviors and child adjustment; and (e) the impart of family structure and household composition on children's wel l-being. Our review documents substantial diversity in family structures, p arenting arrangements, and childrearing values and practices both within an d across ethnic and racial groups. Collectively, the evidence suggests that in most families with young children, parents and children seem to be doin g well. We conclude that substantial work is required to expand the study o f families with young children beyond mother-child dyads in White, middle-c lass, two-parent, first-marringe families.