Persistent economic insecurity and harsh parenting: A latent transition analysis

Harsh parenting is more likely among economically insecure families, yet it is unclear how persistent economic insecurity, including material hardship and income transfers from friends, family, and social assistance programs like Medicaid, are related to harsh parenting. Using a sample of mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (Age 3 & 5 N = 4, 523), we investigated these hypotheses: 1) Unique combinations, or classes, of economic insecurity are differentially associated with harsh parenting at ages three and five, 2) classes of economic insecurity persist over time, and 3) persistent economic insecurity heightens the likelihood for harsh parenting. We found support for the first two hypotheses and mixed support for the third hypothesis. The four latent classes of economic insecurity were differentially associated with harsh parenting, with economically insecure mothers perpetrating more harsh parenting. Most mothers retained their class of economic insecurity over time. Finally, the relationship between persistent economic insecurity and harsh parenting is not straightforward: Persistent economic insecurity was related to moderate amounts of harsh parenting at age five, yet also buffered mothers from classes 1, 2, and 4 from even harsher parenting practices. •60% of mothers perpetrated harsh parenting, including kicking & spanking.•Classes of economic insecurity ranged from high to low hardship/income transfers.•More economic insecurity associated with more risk for harsh parenting.•70% of mothers maintained their level of economic insecurity from age 3 to 5.•Economic gains & losses from age 3 to 5 associated with more harsh parenting.