Citation

Fagan J, Lee Y, Palkovitz R, Cabrera N. J. Fam. Issues 2011; 32(11): 1543-1568.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0192513X11400172

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study examined the associations between stable nonresidence among never married parents (compared with coresident parents) and outcomes for toddlers using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort. The authors found small to medium negative associations between stable nonresidence and toddlers' positive social behavior and small negative associations between stable nonresidence and toddlers' cognition. The associations between stable nonresidence and positive social behavior and cognition were explained by mothers' supportiveness during interactions with the child. The findings suggest that toddlers in stable nonresident families are at greater risk for lowered school readiness because of diminished quality of maternal interactions with the child. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.