An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan
Discipline is a significant predictor of parent–child attachment and relationship quality across the lifespan. Yet, much of the research on Black families’ disciplinary strategies uses a deficit and myopic lens that focuses on punitive punishment styles (e.g., spanking or taking away privileges). In...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/887 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406790971686912 |
|---|---|
| author | Seanna Leath Lamont Bryant Khrystal Johnson Jessica Bernice Pitts Titilope Omole Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes |
| author_facet | Seanna Leath Lamont Bryant Khrystal Johnson Jessica Bernice Pitts Titilope Omole Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes |
| author_sort | Seanna Leath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Discipline is a significant predictor of parent–child attachment and relationship quality across the lifespan. Yet, much of the research on Black families’ disciplinary strategies uses a deficit and myopic lens that focuses on punitive punishment styles (e.g., spanking or taking away privileges). In the current exploratory qualitative study, we used an intergenerational narrative lens and thematic analysis to explore semi-structured interview data from 31 Black mothers (25–60 years, M<sub>age</sub> = 46) in the United States around their mothers’ disciplinary practices during their childhood. We explored the connections that Black adult daughters made between their childhood disciplinary practices and their current disciplinary practices with their children, as well as their current relationships with their mothers. Adult daughters varied widely in their retrospective accounts of their mothers’ disciplinary strategies, which we categorized into three themes: (a) punitive, (b) logical, and (c) natural. We also identified three themes around how their mothers’ practices informed their current disciplinary practices with their own children: namely, (d) continuity, (e) mix, and (f) shift. Finally, we identified three themes around the current nature of their mother–daughter relationships: (g) strained, (h) progressing, and (i) healthy. The results highlighted the personal and cultural factors that informed Black women’s disciplinary strategies across two generations of mothers and revealed that when adult daughters shifted away from what they experienced during childhood—it was often towards less punitive strategies. Our exploratory findings also pointed to patterns regarding the extent to which Black adult daughters felt connected, validated, and supported by their mothers. The findings lend insight into Black mother–daughter relationship dynamics, particularly around the importance of communication patterns and emotional connection in the culture of discipline within families. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7481ea2b2a8c44c6a2bdb565e45f4606 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-7481ea2b2a8c44c6a2bdb565e45f46062025-08-20T03:36:15ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115788710.3390/bs15070887An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the LifespanSeanna Leath0Lamont Bryant1Khrystal Johnson2Jessica Bernice Pitts3Titilope Omole4Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes5Psychological and Brain Sciences Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400224, Charlottesville, VA 22911, USAPsychological and Brain Sciences Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USAPsychological and Brain Sciences Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USAPsychological and Brain Sciences Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USADiscipline is a significant predictor of parent–child attachment and relationship quality across the lifespan. Yet, much of the research on Black families’ disciplinary strategies uses a deficit and myopic lens that focuses on punitive punishment styles (e.g., spanking or taking away privileges). In the current exploratory qualitative study, we used an intergenerational narrative lens and thematic analysis to explore semi-structured interview data from 31 Black mothers (25–60 years, M<sub>age</sub> = 46) in the United States around their mothers’ disciplinary practices during their childhood. We explored the connections that Black adult daughters made between their childhood disciplinary practices and their current disciplinary practices with their children, as well as their current relationships with their mothers. Adult daughters varied widely in their retrospective accounts of their mothers’ disciplinary strategies, which we categorized into three themes: (a) punitive, (b) logical, and (c) natural. We also identified three themes around how their mothers’ practices informed their current disciplinary practices with their own children: namely, (d) continuity, (e) mix, and (f) shift. Finally, we identified three themes around the current nature of their mother–daughter relationships: (g) strained, (h) progressing, and (i) healthy. The results highlighted the personal and cultural factors that informed Black women’s disciplinary strategies across two generations of mothers and revealed that when adult daughters shifted away from what they experienced during childhood—it was often towards less punitive strategies. Our exploratory findings also pointed to patterns regarding the extent to which Black adult daughters felt connected, validated, and supported by their mothers. The findings lend insight into Black mother–daughter relationship dynamics, particularly around the importance of communication patterns and emotional connection in the culture of discipline within families.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/887Black mother–daughter relationshipsdisciplineattachment stylesintergenerational processes |
| spellingShingle | Seanna Leath Lamont Bryant Khrystal Johnson Jessica Bernice Pitts Titilope Omole Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan Behavioral Sciences Black mother–daughter relationships discipline attachment styles intergenerational processes |
| title | An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan |
| title_full | An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan |
| title_fullStr | An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan |
| title_short | An Intergenerational Exploration of Discipline, Attachment, and Black Mother–Daughter Relationships Across the Lifespan |
| title_sort | intergenerational exploration of discipline attachment and black mother daughter relationships across the lifespan |
| topic | Black mother–daughter relationships discipline attachment styles intergenerational processes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/887 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seannaleath anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT lamontbryant anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT khrystaljohnson anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT jessicabernicepitts anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT titilopeomole anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT sherettatbutlerbarnes anintergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT seannaleath intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT lamontbryant intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT khrystaljohnson intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT jessicabernicepitts intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT titilopeomole intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan AT sherettatbutlerbarnes intergenerationalexplorationofdisciplineattachmentandblackmotherdaughterrelationshipsacrossthelifespan |