How Growing Up In Families Of Cross-National Marriages Affects Children’s Cognitive And Behavioral Development?

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the impact of family dynamics and parenting practices on the socioemotional and cognitive development of young children in cross-national families. The study develops a conceptual framework from the family stress and investment models and explores factors unique to cross-national families, such as gender ideology, social support, and language barriers. Using data from the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SGLEADS), the study finds that children in cross-national families with foreign-born mothers have lower scores in verbal and numeracy achievement tests, but this difference becomes insignificant after accounting for the mother's English proficiency, physical home environment, parent-child interaction, and family socioeconomic status. The study highlights the importance of narrowing the socioeconomic gap between cross-national and native families and implementing measures such as language training programs and social support to foreign spouses to help with parenting and living difficulties.