Differences in Intensive

Parenting Attitudes and

Gender Norms Among
U.S. Mothers

F O R B E S E T A L .
2 0 2 0
Introduction
- Purpose: To provide insight regarding differences in intensive
parenting attitudes across various demographic characteristics

- Importance: A better understanding of mothering may aid in a

mother’s ability to navigate unrealistic expectations

- Previous Study: Hays (1996)

Method
- 525 mothers across the United States from an online sample

- Intensive Parenting Questionnaire (IPAQ)

- 6-point agreement scale

- Five Factors of IPAQ:

1. Essentialism

2. Fulfillment

3. Challenging

4. Stimulation

5. Child-centered
Results
- Highest scores for stimulation

- Lowest scores for essentialism

- Stimulation: No differences across demographics

- Child-centered: Younger, high-school education, lower income,

southern region, single mothers

- Challenging: Mothers of toddlers, 4-year degree, reported

experiencing anxiety/depression

- Fulfillment: Mothers with a baby, younger

- Essentialism: Single mothers

Discussion
- Mothers endorse attitudes in line with intensive mothering

- Underlying societal pressures

- Compromised well-being of mothers

- Providing informed support to mothers as they navigate

motherhood
Limitations / Further
Research
- LGBTQ+ community

- Racial ethnicity

- Usage of the term “parents” in IPAQ questions

- Investigation of mothering specifically

- Mental health implications

Discussion Questions

1. What is your ideology on what it means to be a “good”

mother? Where does your personal ideology come from?
What has it been shaped by?

2. Do you plan on having children one day? How do you plan

on pushing back against traditional mothering/fathering
roles and societal pressures that place unrealistic
expectations on parents?