Mothers’ preparation for bias and responses to children’s distress predict positive adjustment among Black children: an attachment perspective

ABSTRACT

Traditional conceptualizations of maternal sensitivity overlook the adaptive function of some parenting behaviors. This study examined mothers’ preparation for bias, suppression responses, and supportive responses to their Black children’s distress as indicators of secure base provision at age five and predictors of children’s age six emotional and behavioral self-regulation. Participants included 91 Black children (52% female) and their mothers. Results indicated a significant 3-way interaction such that mothers’ preparation for bias predicted children’s greater self-regulation when mothers reported high support and moderate suppression in response to children’s distress, b = .40, p < .001. Preparation for bias predicted children’s lower self-regulation when mothers were highly supportive yet low on suppression responses to distress, b = −.31, p < .01. Attachment researchers should consider evaluating caregiving behaviors traditionally deemed insensitive (e.g. parental suppression) through the lens of serving an adaptive function within a complex system of protective practices among Black families.

KEYWORDS:

• Racial socialization
• secure-base provision
• emotion regulation
• behavior regulation
• attachment security

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by award number 5R01HD071957 and award supplement number R01HD071957-03 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. The content is solely the authors’ responsibility and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.