Parenting in place: exploring parenting behaviours and socioeconomic position in the context of neighbourhoods
Megan Shipley and Tamara Blakemore
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Contact Email:   annemarie.nicolfahcsia.gov.au

Children rely on their parents to care for them, provide for them and keep them safe from harm. This can present a greater challenge for disadvantaged families as they have fewer resources available to aid in parenting their children. Research consistently shows factors such as socioeconomic position as well as family and community characteristics are associated with parenting, which in turn influences child outcomes. However, there is little Australian work examining these factors jointly. Consequently, disadvantaged and poor families are often labelled as ‘bad parents’ without clear understanding of the contexts in which they parent their children. This research uses Wave 2 data of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to explore parenting across a socioeconomic gradient while also considering neighbourhood factors which may influence the relationship. Preliminary analyses indicate socioeconomic position and some parent perceptions of neighbourhood are both related to parenting behaviours. This lends evidence to the notion that parenting, socioeconomic disadvantage and neighbourhood characteristics are not mutually exclusive and should not be considered in isolation. A solid understanding of how these factors apply to parenting will ensure a responsive social policy framework that intertwines both socio-economic disadvantage and place-based approaches to build strong families and communities and ensure the wellbeing of Australian children.

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