Environmental Factors Predicting Young Children’s Secure Exploration

This study examined the role of parenting practices on preschoolers’ secure exploratory behaviors; specifically, the extent to which parenting practices mediate the relationship between socio-economic status, perceived neighborhood support, parental depression and children’s exploratory behaviors. The participants (n = 3268) were parents of young children (M_age = 50.82 months; 50% identified as Latinx). Structural equation models revealed that parenting practices had a positive direct association with preschoolers’ secure exploration. Parental depression had a negative association with preschoolers’ secure exploration, whereas perceived neighborhood support and socio-economic status had positive associations with secure exploration. These associations were significantly mediated through parenting practices. The results demonstrate the crucial role parents play in fostering their child’s secure exploration by providing a secure base and exploratory experiences, and can inform policy and family education programs.