Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Three Positive Parenting Practices and Their Correlation with Risk of Childhood Developmental, Social, or Behavioral Delays: An Analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

(1) Investigate the relationship between three specific positive parenting practices (PPP)—reading to children, engaging in storytelling or singing, and eating meals together as a family—and parent-reported risk of developmental, behavioral, or social delays among children between the ages of 1–5 years in the US. (2) Determine if a combination of these parenting practices has an effect on the outcome.

Methods

Chi square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Children’s Health 2011/2012 in regards to the relationship between each of the three individual PPP as well as a total PPP score and the child’s risk of being developmentally, socially, or behaviorally delayed (N = 21,527). Risk of delay was calculated using the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status Questionnaire, which is a parental self-report measure that has been correlated with diagnosed child delays. These analyses controlled for poverty and parental education. All analyses were completed using SAS Version 9.3.

Results

A strong correlation was found between each of the three PPP as well as the total PPP score and the child’s risk of developmental, social, or behavioral delays (p < 0.05 for each test). These associations were found to have a dose–response relationship (p < 0.05 in all but one analysis).

Conclusions

Daily engagement in PPP could possibly reduce children’s risk of delay, and specifically engaging in all three PPP may have greater benefit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. (2011/12). National Survey of Children’s Health 2011–2012 Enhanced Data File. [cited 2013 September 14, 2013]. www.childhealthdata.org

  2. Grantmakers In Health, W.D.C.U.S.A. (2000). Early childhood development: Putting knowledge into action. Issue Brief (Grantmakers Health), 8, 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kenney, M. K. (2012). Child, family, and neighborhood associations with parent and peer interactive play during early childhood. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16, S88–S101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rodriguez, E. T., & Tamis-LeMonda, C. S. (2011). Trajectories of the home learning environment across the first 5 years: Associations with children’s vocabulary and literacy skills at prekindergarten. Child Development, 82(4), 1058–1075.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bus, A. G., Van Ijzendoorn, M. H., & Pellegrini, A. D. (1995). Joint book reading makes for success in learning to read: A meta-analysis on intergenerational transmission of literacy. Review of Educational Research, 65(1), 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Peisner-Feinberg, E. S., et al. (2001). The relation of preschool child-care quality to children’s cognitive and social developmental trajectories through second grade. Child Development, 72(5), 1534–1553.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Larson, R. W., Branscomb, K. R., & Wiley, A. R. (2006). Forms and functions of family mealtimes: Multidisciplinary perspectives. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 111, 1–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Snow, C. E., & Beals, D. E. (2006). Mealtime talk that supports literacy development. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 111, 51–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hammons, A. J., & Fiese, B. H. (2011). Is frequency of shared family meals related to the nutritional health of children and adolescents? Pediatrics, 127(6), E1565–E1574.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Munoz, D. J., Israel, A. C., & Anderson, D. A. (2007). The relationship of family stability and family mealtime frequency with bulimia symptomatology. Journal of Eating Disorders, 15(3), 261–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Blanchard, L. T., Gurka, M. J., & Blackman, J. A. (2006). Emotional, developmental, and behavioral health of American children and their families: A report from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health. Pediatrics, 117(6), E1202–E1212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Burchinal, M., et al. (2011). Examining the black–white achievement gap among low-income children using the NICHD study of early child care and youth development. Child Development, 82(5), 1404–1420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kalil, A., Ryan, R., & Corey, M. (2012). Diverging destinies: Maternal education and the developmental gradient in time with children. Demography, 49(4), 1361–1383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sastry, N., & Pebley, A. R. (2010). Family and neighborhood sources of socioeconomic inequality in children’s achievement. Demography, 47(3), 777–800.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mol, S. E., & Bus, A. G. (2011). To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood. Psychological Bulletin, 137(2), 267–296.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Carothers, S. S., Borkowski, J. G., & Whitman, T. L. (2006). Children of adolescent mothers: Exposure to negative life events and the role of social supports on their socioemotional adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(5), 827–837.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Flores, G., Tomany-Korman, S. C., & Olson, L. (2005). Does disadvantage start at home? Racial and ethnic disparities in health-related early childhood home routines and safety practices. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 159(2), 158–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Runfola, M., et al. (2012). Effect of music instruction on preschoolers’ music achievement and emergent literacy achievement. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 192, 7–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hale, L., et al. (2011). A longitudinal study of preschoolers’ language-based bedtime routines, sleep duration, and well-being. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(3), 423–433.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ginsburg, K. R., & Committee on Communications and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent–child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Uren, N., & Stagnitti, K. (2009). Pretend play, social competence and involvement in children aged 5–7 years: The concurrent validity of the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 56(1), 33–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Videon, T. M., & Manning, C. K. (2003). Influences on adolescent eating patterns: The importance of family meals. Journal of Adolescent Health, 32(5), 365–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hango, D. (2007). Parental investment in childhood and educational qualifications: Can greater parental involvement mediate the effects of socioeconomic disadvantage? Social Science Research, 36(4), 1371–1390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kogan, M. D., Ghandour, R. M., & Schempf, A. H. (2012). Introduction to the special issue of articles from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16(Suppl 1), S1–S5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 2013). 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health Frequently Asked Questions. National Center for Health Statistics, State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey, Editor. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/slaits/nsch.htm

  26. Blumberg, S. J., et al. (2012). Design and operation of the National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007. Vital and Health Statistics Series 1, 55, 1–149.

    Google Scholar 

  27. PEDS Test. (2014). [cited 2014 04/01/2014]. http://www.pedstest.com/Research/PEDSStandardization.aspx

  28. Brooks-Gunn, J., & Markman, L. B. (2005). The contribution of parenting to ethnic and racial gaps in school readiness. Future of Children, 15(1), 139–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cratty, D. (2012). Potential for significant reductions in dropout rates: Analysis of an entire 3rd grade state cohort. Economics of Education Review, 31(5), 644–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Allensworth, D., et al. (2011). Addressing the needs of the whole child: What public health can do to answer the education sector’s call for a stronger partnership. Preventing Chronic Disease, 8(2), 6.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pappas, G., Queen, S., Hadden, W., & Fisher, G. (1993). The increasing disparity in mortality between socioeconomic groups in the United States, 1960 and 1986. New England Journal of Medicine, 329(2), 103–109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Woolf, S. H., et al. (2007). Giving everyone the health of the educated: An examination of whether social change would save more lives than medical advances. American Journal of Public Health, 97(4), 679–683.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Freudenberg, N., & Ruglis, J. (2007). Reframing school dropout as a public health issue. Preventing Chornic Disease, 4(4), A107.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Anderson, L. M., et al. (2013). The effectiveness of early childhood development programs: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 24(3), 32–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Burger, K. (2010). How does early childhood care and education affect cognitive development? An international review of the effects of early interventions for children from different social backgrounds. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 25(2), 140–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. McConachie, H., & Diggle, T. (2007). Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 13(1), 120–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Christensen, D. L., Schieve, L. A., Devine, O., & Drews-Botsch, C. (2014). Socioeconomic status, child enrichment factors, and cognitive performance among preschool-age children: Results from the follow-up of growth and development experiences study. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(7), 1789–1801.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hawkinson, L. E., Griffen, A. S., Dong, N., & Maynard, R. A. (2013). The relationship between child care subsidies and children’s cognitive development. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 28(2), 388–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Hofferth, S. L. (2006). Response bias in a popular indicator of reading to children. Sociological Methodology, 36, 301–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Glascoe, F. P. (2003). Parents’ evaluation of developmental status: How well do parents’ concerns identify children with behavioral and emotional problems? Clinical Pediatrics, 42(2), 133–138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Behavior, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Bowman Hall Room 336, Lexington, KY, 40506-0059, USA

    Sarah E. Cprek, Corrine M. Williams, Ibitola Asaolu, Linda A. Alexander & Robin C. Vanderpool

Authors
  1. Sarah E. Cprek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Corrine M. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ibitola Asaolu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Linda A. Alexander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robin C. Vanderpool
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah E. Cprek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cprek, S.E., Williams, C.M., Asaolu, I. et al. Three Positive Parenting Practices and Their Correlation with Risk of Childhood Developmental, Social, or Behavioral Delays: An Analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health. Matern Child Health J 19, 2403–2411 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1759-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1759-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation