Parenting practices adopted by Pacific mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand: a longitudinal analysis of the Pacific Islands Families Study
Main Article Content
Keywords
parenting, acculturation, Pacific, life course epidemiology, mental health, longitudinal research, population health
Abstract
Introduction: Responsive parenting practices nurture emotional wellbeing and healthy child development. Yet, providing consistent nurturing care for young children can be challenging, especially for primary caregivers affected by stressors of immigration, acculturation, and health inequalities. Pacific families who have immigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand often report resilient mental health, attributed to heritage cultural values and strong social support. This study examines contextual factors associated with varying parenting behaviours to identify conditions that support health-promoting caregiving practices in contexts of intersecting social challenges.
Methods: This study analysed longitudinal data from the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study. Participants included all Pacific mothers (primary caregivers) who participated in measurement waves at child ages 6-weeks (n=1,277), 2-years (n=1,062), and 4-years (n=972). Multilevel logistic modelling examined associations between mothers’ current parenting practices and socioecological factors, including childhood parenting history, cultural adaptation, immigration, education, and income.
Results: Nurturing parenting practices were positively associated with emotionally supportive upbringings, education, and connection with local culture. Odds of frequent use of nurturing parenting practices were significantly greater for mothers who recalled often, rather than rarely, receiving emotional support from primary caregivers in childhood. Use of harsh disciplinary parenting practices was associated with current social stressors including lower income, higher childcare burden, and recent immigration. No association was observed with adverse childhood parenting experiences.
Conclusions: Childhood experience of nurturing care may predict nurturing parenting practices in the next generation. Access to education and parenting support may also reinforce patterns of adaptive parenting practices, while economic stability and proximal parenting support appear crucial to reducing use of harsh disciplinary practices. Public health strategies that strengthen parenting self-efficacy and social connectedness may enhance parental capacity to nurture child mental health resilience. Prevention-focused, culturally responsive support and improved access to parenting resources could advance health equity for families and communities.
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