Abstract
Prior research suggests that relatively strict parenting is associated with positive outcomes for African American but not European American children. This study examined whether the parenting correlates for children from these two ethnic backgrounds are different, or whether other factors confounded with ethnic background such as stressful life events better account for these apparent differences. Thirty-one African American and 22 European American children were assessed longitudinally at ages 4 and 8 years. Both groups of children were from comparably economically impoverished backgrounds. Restrictive parenting was assessed through observation and caregivers' self-report. Parents completed ratings of child emotional and behavioral problems. Parental restrictiveness partially shielded both African American and European American children from the negative effects of stress. Findings suggest that stress rather than ethnic group per se may be key to understanding the differential effects of parental restrictiveness. Implications for practitioners concerning the distinction between strict parenting and abusive parenting are discussed.