Inner-city parents under economic pressure: perspectives on the strategies of parenting

The amount of economic pressure has been rising for the last ten years due to socioeconomic trends which made a dent in the middle class. A study of the effect of economic pressure on inner-city families shows that both low income and inadequate work/income factors lead to increased emotional distress and perceived parental inefficiency. African American parents have a positive outlook towards parental efficacy that increases developmental scope for children and reduces behavioral risks. The effect of single-parent households and conflicted marriages are discussed.