Critique of an Article

Name

Institutional Affiliation

Milkie, M. A., Nomaguchi, K. M., & Denny, K. E. (2015). Does the Amount of Time Mothers Spend With Children or Adolescents Matter? Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(2), 355-372.

The article seeks to establish if there is any effect that is induced as a result of time spent by mother and child or adolescents. The study also sought to prove if it is true that the more time mother and child spend, the more positive the child will be behaviourally, emotionally and academically. 

To carry out the research, the study employed longitudinal survey techniques to study families selected for the study. A total of 1610 children (3-11 years old) and 778 adolescents were involved in the study. Families to be studies were selected on some specified criterion. To qualify for the study, the mother-child relationship was supposed to be strictly biological. Children had to willingly accept to participate in the study. The children and adolescents had to be able to complete weekend diaries with their mothers. 

The dependent variable was the developmental outcomes for both the children and adolescents. The developmental outcomes in this case were behaviour, emotional problems and performance in academics. Risky behaviour was also assessed in adolescents. Mothers were requested to respond on the behaviour of the child and had to fill a scale with parameters like lies told, too much arguing, concentration abilities, bullying, cruelty and restlessness among others. Academic performance was measured using the Woodcock-Johnson subtest. The independent variable was the accessible time spent with the parent in question. Accessible time was the time a mother spent with a child doing some activity. 

The study found that the time spent by mothers and their children did not matter. The effect on behaviour was found to be very small. With adolescents, it was different. Time spent by mothers and their adolescent kids had a significant and direct effect on behaviour. The reasons for the conclusion were found to be motivation, avoidance of risky behaviours, the attention boosted their self-esteem and fear of breaking the bond with their parents due to poor behaviours.
The study did not mention any ethical issues but it was expected that the consent of the parents be sought after. The families participating in the study were also expected to fill in the diaries with honesty. From this research it would be necessary to identify if fathers had the same effect on their children as much as the mothers did. 

References

Milkie, M. A., Nomaguchi, K. M., & Denny, K. E. (2015). Does the Amount of Time Mothers Spend With Children or Adolescents Matter? Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(2), 355-372.