Children's Self-Esteem and Maternal Behavior in Three Low-Income Samples

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Abstract
This study examined the relationships between children's perceptions of maternal child-rearing behavior and a measure of children's self-esteem within low-income samples. Three cohort samples of 2,194 fifth and sixth grade children from rural Appalachia were surveyed. Siegelman's analysis of the Bronfenbrenner Parent Behavior Questionnaire (Cornell Parent Behavior Inventory) was used to operationalize children's perceptions of maternal loving, demanding, and punishing behaviors. Children's self-esteem was measured with the Lipsitt Self-concept Scale. Multiple regression analysis was used to replicate the findings within each of the three samples. In general, the maternal loving and demanding dimensions exhibited positive relationships, while maternal punishment was negatively correlated with children's self-esteem.