Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Nicole Ling L&S Social Sciences

Parental Depression and Parenting Style in Low-income Families

Children turn to their parents for security, affection, and guidance. Parenting styles – ways parents interact with their children – directly impact children’s emotional welfare and their future decision-making, work, social interactions, and habits. Authoritative Parenting (AT) means setting limits in a nurturing way. Authoritarian Parenting (AR) means strictly reinforcing obedience. It is essential to assess the psychological factors that influence parenting style, for earlier identification and intervention of adverse child mental health outcomes associated with poor parenting. Parental depression increases the risk of maladaptive parenting styles, which in turn increases the risk of child depression. Both maternal and paternal depression have universal implications for child development cross-culturally, yet there are culturally specific parenting practices. Understanding the contrast between parenting styles across cultures can reveal effective techniques or beliefs that could be universally adapted in the face of depression. I aim to examine the relationship between parental depression and parenting style in low-income Mexican and Chinese American parents from immigrant backgrounds.

Message To Sponsor

I would like to sincerely thank my donors and mentors for making this research project possible! I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to improve my research skills and contribute to the field of clinical, cognitive, and social psychology. I am excited to embark on this rewarding journey!
Major: Psychology, Cognitive Science
Mentor: Qing Zhou
Sponsor: Wishek Fund
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