Ann Arbor Times

A recent study involving researchers from the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has found that financial hardship among parents can have lasting effects on their children's social development. The research, published in Family Relations, was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The study analyzed data from over 3,000 families participating in the Future of Family and Child Wellbeing Study. Children were tracked from ages 3 to 9, with a focus on parental financial history, mental health, co-parenting relationships, and children's social skills.

Results showed that mothers who experienced higher levels of material hardship reported more symptoms of depression and lower-quality co-parenting when their children were five years old. These factors were linked to poorer social skills in children by age nine. The findings also indicated that experiences of hardship and co-parenting quality between mothers and fathers were often interconnected.

“Financial stress doesn’t just show up in the bills—it shows up in family life,” said Kathryn Maguire-Jack, a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work and co-author of the study. “When parents are stretched thin trying to meet basic needs, it can take a real emotional toll. That stress can quietly shape how parents interact and, ultimately, how children learn to connect with the world around them.”

The research further noted that fathers facing greater hardship were sometimes seen by mothers as more supportive co-parents. “In the absence of financial stability, some fathers may compensate by offering greater emotional and relational support, reinforcing the idea that being emotionally present can carry real weight in challenging times,” Maguire-Jack added.

However, paternal depression was associated with poorer co-parenting relationships at times—a pattern researchers suggest may reflect traditional gender roles related to caregiving and breadwinning.

The authors argue for supporting both parents emotionally and financially to improve family dynamics and child outcomes. Other contributors to the study include Yiran Zhang, Susan Yoon, Juan Lorenzo Benavides, Yujeong Chang (Ohio State University), and Jingyi Wang (Hong Kong University).