Abstract
Moderating effects of psychological adjustment on the relationship of kinship support with parenting practices were assessed among 204 low-income African American mothers of adolescents. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that kinship support, optimism, and self-esteem were positively associated with mothers’ emotional support of their adolescents. Moderating effects of mothers’ adjustment revealed that the positive association of kinship support with emotional support was less apparent when mothers were more depressed. Additional evidence of moderation was found, in that the positive association of kinship support with emotional support was more apparent when mothers had higher levels of self-esteem. Kinship support and optimism were positively associated with mothers’ maintenance of organization in the family. Evidence of the moderating effects of mothers’ adjustment revealed that the positive association of kinship support with family organization was more evident when mothers had higher levels of self-esteem. Findings were discussed in terms of the need for more research on the contexts in which social support occurs.
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