The relationship between parenting and materialism in British mothers and fathers of secondary school age children

Data on 1091 British mothers and fathers of secondary school age children were used to explore the relationship between parenting and materialism. In fathers educational attainment was negatively, and parenting stress, marital conflict, and parental involvement were positively related to materialism. Compared to fathers in intact families those who lived alone scored lower on materialism. In mothers psychological distress was positively and free school meals receipt was negatively related to materialism. Inter-parental conflict did not moderate the relationship between parenting stress and parental materialism. Parenting stress (but not parental involvement) mediated the relationship between children's emotional and behavioural problems and parents’ materialism.