A Multivariate Investigation of Maternal Risks and Their Relationship to Low-Income, Preschool Children's Competencies

Utilizing a developmental-ecological framework, the purpose of this study was to understand the unique impact of multiple maternal risks across time on ethnically diverse, low-income, preschool children's cognitive skills, pro-social behaviors, and behavior problems. Additionally, this study sought to understand the variability of maternal risks within a low-income population. Data from the national impact evaluation of the Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP) was used (N=3,852). Variable-centered analyses demonstrated that maternal education accounted for the most variance in children's cognitive outcomes, whereas chronicity of maternal depression accounted for the most variance in children's pro-social and problem behaviors. Person-centered analyses revealed eight distinct profiles of maternal risks, demonstrating the heterogeneity of this low-income population. Further, these profiles related differentially to children's preschool skills, indicating that different combinations of maternal risks were associated with varying outcomes for young children. Implications of study findings for early childhood practice, policy, and future research are discussed.