This study was designed to test mediation and moderation models between sense of general or ethnic discrimination, psychological distress, and behavioral problems. The sample consisted of 68 first-...Show moreThis study was designed to test mediation and moderation models between sense of general or ethnic discrimination, psychological distress, and behavioral problems. The sample consisted of 68 first- and second generation Turkish-Dutch mothers and their 11- to 13- year old adolescent children. Sense of general or ethnic discrimination and psychological distress was measured by questionnaires filled out by the adolescents. A questionnaire about the child’s behavioral problems was filled out by mother. It was found that young adolescents who perceived that they were being discriminated against also reported more psychological distress. Mothers of adolescents with more psychological distress reported more behavioral problems. An indirect effect between sense of general discrimination and behavioral problems, via the mediator psychological distress was found. No direct relation between sense of general discrimination and behavioral problems was found and no moderating role of psychological distress was found in the relation between discrimination and behavioral problems. Our study with third generation adolescents contributes to the information that was already available about sense of discrimination, psychological distress and behavioral problems in first- and second- generation adolescents, making it possible to compare between different generations.Show less
The current study examined the contributing role of ethnic background and family income in mothers’ beliefs about the ideal sensitive mother across Egyptian, Moroccan and Dutch mothers living in...Show moreThe current study examined the contributing role of ethnic background and family income in mothers’ beliefs about the ideal sensitive mother across Egyptian, Moroccan and Dutch mothers living in the Netherlands. A total of 75 mothers with at least one child between 6 months and 6 years participated. The Maternal Behavior Q-Sort was used for mothers to describe their views of the ideal mother. Maternal views of the ideal mother were very similar across the different cultural groups, and very similar to the construct of sensitivity. Mothers from ethnic minorities showed the lowest sensitivity belief scores, meaning that their views of the ideal mother were least similar to the construct of sensitivity. However, family income, not education, mediated the relationship between ethnic background and sensitivity belief scores. Families with lower income had lower maternal sensitivity belief scores. The findings add evidence to the effect of family economic stress on parenting across cultures more so than ethnicity. Our findings emphasize the importance of measuring multiple socioeconomic status indicators in cross-cultural studies.Show less