-
Cabrera on Mothers’ and Fathers’ Playfulness
-
Playfulness is associated with children's emotion regulation and vocabulary skills
Located in
Research
/
Selected Research
-
Cabrera's work featured on MedicalXpress.com
-
Family cohesion, discipline, and strong ethnic identity help low-income kids succeed
Located in
News
-
Children’s Adjustment to Parents’ Breakup: The Mediational Effects of Parenting and Coparenting
-
Although past studies have shown an association between union instability (i.e., change in family structure) and children’s aggressive behaviors, the mechanism by which this occurs is less understood. This study ( N = 3,387) examined whether father and mother involvement, coparenting support, and maternal responsiveness explained the association between union instability in early life and children’s aggressive behaviors at 9 years, and whether relationship status moderated this association. Findings reveal that only coparenting support mediated this association and only for children whose mothers divorced (not for mothers who experienced a nonmarital separation), suggesting that when a divorce occurs, the relationship between partners (coparenting) is more important than the relationship with children (parenting) for children’s social adjustment.
Located in
MPRC People
/
Natasha Cabrera, Ph.D.
/
Natasha Cabrera Publications
-
Cultural adaptation of ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ for Hispanic families: applying the ecological validity model
-
Background Healthy Dads Healthy Kids (HDHK) is a unique lifestyle obesity intervention for fathers and children that demonstrated weight loss among the fathers and behavior change among fathers and children in Australia. The program is gender-tailored to specifically target fathers for weight loss and 5–12 year old children for obesity prevention. The aim of this formative study was to examine an Expert Panel’s and Hispanic Family Panel’s perceptions about the program and suggestions for the cultural adaptation of HDHK for Hispanic families in southwestern US. Methods Forty-four Hispanic participants (22 fathers, 13 mothers and 9 children) made up the Family Panel. They participated in 1–5 study contacts (focus groups, online survey, and/or interviews). The scripts and qualitative guides assessed participants’ perceptions of the HDHK content and material using the Ecological Validity Model. Studies were conducted in English or Spanish, depending on the preference of the participant. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and thematically coded. Findings were reviewed with the Expert Panel who helped inform the cultural adaptation. Results 80% of parents were foreign-born, 57% spoke only Spanish at home, and 60% did not graduate from high school. Several themes emerged to inform the cultural adaptation of the program. Parents agreed with the HDHK goals and recommended the program place greater emphasis on parenting and limiting children’s screen time. Some mothers and fathers wanted greater mother engagement. Weekly videos and a Facebook group emerged as favorite alternative options to engage mothers. Greater promotion of familism (inclusion and impact on whole family) was recommended for the program goals and activities. Gender roles for mothers and fathers, and differences in how fathers interact with male and female children, emerged and should be considered in program activities. Several barriers to father engagement surfaced, including lack of time due to work schedules, physically demanding jobs, concerns of caring for children without mother, fathers’ current fitness/weight, and lack of knowledge of how to eat more healthfully. The reading level of the HDHK materials was too high for some parents. Conclusion Findings from these formative qualitative studies informed the cultural adaptation of HDHK for Hispanic families, to account for literacy level, cultural values, and barriers to participation and engagement.
Located in
MPRC People
/
Natasha Cabrera, Ph.D.
/
Natasha Cabrera Publications
-
Culture and Population Working Group Meeting
-
Natasha Cabrera (Dept of Human Development), “Disentangling the associations between Latino mothers’ and fathers’ socioeconomic and immigrant status and toddler’s cognitive and social skills”
Located in
Coming Up
-
Early Home Experiences of Young Latino Boys
-
Why research on low-income Latino children really matters
Located in
Research
/
Selected Research
-
Family Processes, Intergenerational Learning and Involved Fathering
-
MPRC associates are collaborating on a component project that investigates intergenerational mechanisms through which “responsible fathering” may be transmitted.
Located in
Research
/
Selected Research
-
Family Structure Change Among Latinos: Variation by Ecologic Risk
-
We examined differences in family structure change in an urban sample of mothers (N = 1,314) from their child’s birth to age 5 and whether ecological risk moderated this association. We found that compared with U.S.-born Latino mothers, foreign-born Latino mothers were 62% less likely to break up and 75% less likely to repartner than remain stably resident. Across nativity status, Latina mothers with fewer children, more economic stress, less income, and less frequently reported father involvement were more likely to break up and repartner than remain stably resident. We found no moderation effects of ecological risk.
Located in
MPRC People
/
Natasha Cabrera, Ph.D.
/
Natasha Cabrera Publications
-
How Does Parental Stress Affect Child Outcomes?
-
Natasha Cabrera has completed a paper on “Parenting and early predictors of Latino children’s cognitive and social development: Direct and Indirect Effects”
Located in
Research
/
Selected Research
-
Low-Income Fathers' Linguistic Influence on their Children's' Language Development
-
Faculty Associate Natasha Cabrera begins work on the effects of speech on children
Located in
Research
/
Selected Research