About this paper symposium

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Panel information
Panel 27. Solicited Content: Global South

Paper #1
Income Trajectories and Adolescent Well-Being: Insights from Longitudinal Data in China
Author information	Role
Qian-Wen Xie, Zhejiang University, China	Presenting author
Shuang Lu, University of Central Florida, USA	Non-presenting author
Xiangyan Luo, Zhejiang University, China	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period for health and development, shaping the future capabilities of a nation's workforce. Socioeconomic status (SES), particularly household income, significantly influences adolescent health and developmental outcomes by affecting access to essential resources. Since household income can be adjusted through policy measures, it is a crucial focus for reducing health disparities and promoting social equity. While there is substantial evidence linking household income to adolescent health, there is limited longitudinal research on how changes in income over time affect adolescent well-being. This study analyzes data from four waves of the China Family Panel Study (CFPS) to investigate the impact of household income trajectories on adolescent well-being. Using a group-based trajectory model, we analyzed a nationally representative sample of 3,491 Chinese families with adolescents aged 10 to 19, identifying five distinct income trajectories: stable low-income, stable lower-middle-income, stable middle-income, stable high-income, and decreasing income. The results show that adolescents from stable low-income families reported the lowest levels of happiness and performed worse on vocabulary and math tests. Those from families with declining incomes exhibited the highest levels of depressive symptoms and the lowest Height-for-Age Z-scores (HAZ). No significant association was found between income trajectories and Body Mass Index-for-Age Z-scores (BAZ). These findings underscore the importance of policies addressing economic instability to support adolescent development. By targeting these economic disparities, public service professionals can help ensure that all adolescents have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Paper #2
Parenting, Coparenting and Child Well-Being Across Two Countries: Similarities and Differences of Parent Perceptions
Author information	Role
Dr. Nazli Akay, Ph.D., Birmingham City University, United Kingdom	Presenting author
Başak Şahin-Acar, Middle East Technical University, Turkey	Non-presenting author
Pasco Fearon, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Even though parenting is a universal experience that is seen around the world, the actual beliefs and practices tend to vary across cultures. This presentation concerns some of the results from a study that examined nanny care and family dynamics across Türkiye and the UK, two countries which are more different than similar in their cultural background. A hundred and twenty-two Turkish mothers, 81 Turkish fathers, 105 British mothers, and 111 British fathers of 1.5-5 year-olds who are cared for by nannies participated in this study. Among other measures, the participants were asked about their child care patterns, perceptions on relationship qualities, and household responsibilities. They additionally filled the Perceived Partner Responsiveness Scale (PPRS) to report on their relationship with their partner, and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to indicate their child’s wellbeing. According to the results, most household and childcare responsibilities were attributed to the mother, regardless of the country or informant type (mother or father). However, in both countries, fathers reported a more egalitarian responsibility division, whereas the mothers allocated more responsibility to themselves. Another similarity between the participants from these two countries was observed in the levels of perceived partner responsiveness, which was high overall. However, the CBCL response patterns significantly differed among the Turkish and British mothers, where Turkish mothers’ ratings led to higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problem scores. The fathers from both countries gave similar ratings for the externalizing problems, but similarly to the Turkish mothers, the Turkish fathers had a higher tendency to report internalizing problems. Finally, when asked to rate the quality of the relationship between themselves and the child and between their partner and the child, the Turkish and British fathers did not give different ratings, but the British mothers gave significantly higher ratings than Turkish mothers, which indicated the perception of a better parent-child relationship. These findings demonstrate the existence of similarities but also differences across a range of areas concerning coparenting and child care, when both the country and household role of the participants are considered. They further suggest a more careful consideration of the universality of concepts and measures that are used by researchers around the world to examine child development and family relations.

Paper #3
Childcare, Gender Equity, and Parenting Practices: Insights from Costa Rican Families
Author information	Role
L. Diego Conejo Bolaños, National University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica	Presenting author
Marianella Castro Pérez, National University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica	Non-presenting author
Gustavo Carlo, University of California, Irvine, USA	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Care is fundamental for child development, and it has significant implications for human development throughout life and for the human capital of nations (Symeou, 2006). Women not only assume the responsibility of caring for children but also take on most of the other household tasks, ensuring the care of the entire family (INEC, 2022). This results in a range of duties that have historically limited their participation in other areas of social life. From a rights-based approach and the perspective of positive child development, it is important to highlight the need to support families in their caregiving processes, ensuring the right to provide care, to be cared for, and to practice self-care. Additionally, promoting shared responsibility in caregiving that fosters an equitable distribution of household tasks is crucial. The objective of this study is twofold: The first part analyzes the crucial role of childcare in the comprehensive development of individuals by examining the distribution of responsibilities within families in Costa Rica, according to data from National Survey on the Use of Time (ENUT 2017/2022). Following up on this topic, the second part explores the main parenting strategies used in a sample of Costa Rican participants. The methodology includes a specific analysis of the ENUT 2017/2022 results regarding the distribution of caregiving and household tasks, as well as an analysis of data related to parental stress, self-efficacy, non-intrusive discipline, psychological control, negative parenting, and positive parenting in a sample of Costa Rican mothers. The results from the first component indicate that nationally, in 2022, 98% of individuals aged 12 and older spent time on unpaid domestic work (TDNR) weekly. Women dedicated 32:04 hours, while men reported 15:44 hours, indicating persistent gender gaps, with women spending twice as much time on these tasks. Compared to 2017, women reduced their TDNR by about four hours, while men increased theirs by two hours, both statistically significant changes. The gender gap narrowed by 5:46 hours between the two surveys, though it remains substantial. In households with children under 12, 30.5% of women and 20% of men participated in childcare, with women averaging 11:56 hours and men 7:19 hours weekly. Women reduced their childcare time by 2 hours and 49 minutes, while men's increased slightly by 11 minutes. Education plays a role: women with lower education spend more time on TDNR, while men with higher education dedicate more time to these tasks. Regarding the second part of the paper, the results indicate that higher stress levels are linked to more psychological control (rho= .25, p=.05). Greater perceived parenting self-efficacy is associated with less negative parenting (rho= -.47, p<.001) and physical punishment (rho= -.43, p<.001). Non-intrusive discipline correlates with less negative parenting (rho= -.29, p=.019), while negative parenting increases physical punishment (rho= .52, p<.001) and reduces positive parenting (rho= -.47, p<.001). These results are discussed considering the need to support families in reflecting on and changing childcare practices, promoting a caregiving approach based on protection and gender co-responsibility.

Paper #4
Psychological control mediates maternal distress and relational aggression in preschoolers: Perceived normativeness as a moderator
Author information	Role
Xiao-yuan Wu, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Presenting author
Eva Yi Hung Lau, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Non-presenting author
Lei Chang, University of Macau, Macau	Non-presenting author
Ken Chung Kit Chan, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Background: Relational aggression (RA) in early years is uniquely associated with various concurrent or future social-psychological problems, such as peer rejection, emotional dysregulation, and internalizing behaviors (Swit & Slater, 2021; Ostrov & Godleski, 2013). Prior empirical studies have suggested that maternal psychological control (PC) predicts children’s relational aggression (RA) (e.g., Kuppens et al., 2013). However, the antecedents of psychological control and the moderating effect of parents’ perceived normativeness of PC on this association have not been examined simultaneously. This gap is particularly notable in the Hong Kong Chinese context, where psychological control is often considered normative by parents. Guided by emotion socialization theory (Eisenberg et al., 2020), this two-wave longitudinal study extends the literature by examining PC (conceptualized as a parental emotion-related socialization behavior) as a mediator in the relation between maternal distress (conceptualized as a parental characteristic) and RA. It also examined mothers’ perceived normativeness of psychological control (PNPC) as a moderator in the relation between maternal PC and child RA. Method: Using a stratified and convenience sampling strategy, 175 preschool-aged children (50.9% girls; Mage = 60.93 months, SD = 5.59) and their mothers (Mage = 35.63 years; SD = 4.91) and fathers (Mage = 39.95 years; SD = 6.27) from five kindergartens in Hong Kong were recruited for this study. At Time 1 (T1), mothers reported their distress, use of PC in parenting, and demographic variables. At Time 2 (T2; six months later), mothers reported their PNPC, and both mothers and fathers rated their children’s RA. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the moderated mediation model. Child age, child gender, and mothers’ education level were included as covariates. Results: The model showed adequate fit, with T1 maternal PC mediated the effect of T1 maternal distress on T2 RA. Specifically, T1 maternal distress was positively related to T1 maternal PC, which in turn positively predicted T2 children’s RA. Further, T2 mothers’ PNPC moderated the relation between T1 maternal PC and T2 children’s RA. The mediation effect was significant only when T2 mothers’ PNPC was low or medium, rather than high. Discussion: Findings suggest that maternal distress exerts a spillover effect, compromising mother-child interactions as evidenced by increased PC (Aunola et al., 2015; Breaux et al., 2016), which in turn predicts higher levels of RA in children. While mothers with high PNPC may consider PC as one of their parenting practices, they may also incorporate other effective strategies (e.g., expressing warmth) which may mitigate the detrimental impact of PC on child outcomes (Loth et al., 2022). Conversely, mothers with low PNPC, despite perceiving a low use of PC by other parents in their community, may still use PC intentionally due to their lack of knowledge or skills in employing other effective parenting strategies (Ateah & Durrant, 2005). This can lead to higher levels of child RA. Taken together, efforts to prevent children’s RA should focus on reducing maternal distress and the use of PC, especially for mothers who perceive PC as less frequently adopted in their community.

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