Mental Health Factors and Teaching Behaviors among Low-Income Hispanic Mothers

The relationships among anxiety, depression, parenting stress, social support, and teaching behaviors were studied in a group of 101 low-income Dominican and Puerto Rican mothers with children in Head Start The two groups of mothers showed high levels of depression, anxiety, and parenting stress but did not differ significantly from each other. Puerto Rican mothers reported more social support than did Dominican mothers. Surprisingly, neither anxiety nor depression was significantly associated with social support Both groups used more directive, modeling, and visual cues than other behaviors in their teaching. Dominican mothers used more modeling than Puerto Rican mothers, who used more praise and inquiry. Anxious and depressed mothers also used more negative feedback, directives, and modeling. Those with high parenting stress used less inquiry and praise and more modeling. These findings inform clinical and educational interventions with parents and children.