Uses and Misuses of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory of Human Development

Tudge, Jonathan R. H.; Mokrova, Irina; Hatfield, Bridget E.; Karnik, Rachana B.

doi:10.1111/j.1756-2589.2009.00026.x

Cited by 879Family Dynamics and RelationshipsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentEarly Childhood Education and Development

Uses and Misuses of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory of Human Development

Open access

Tudge, Jonathan R. H., Mokrova, Irina, Hatfield, Bridget E., Karnik, Rachana B.·2009·Journal of Family Theory & Review

DOI 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2009.00026.x

Open this paper in CoChat — free account Open PDF

Abstract

This paper evaluates the application of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory as it is represented in empirical work on families and their relationships. We describe the “mature” form of bioecological theory of the mid‐1990s and beyond, with its focus on proximal processes at the center of the Process‐Person‐Context‐Time model. We then examine 25 papers published since 2001, all explicitly described as being based on Bronfenbrenner's theory, and show that all but 4 rely on outmoded versions of the theory, resulting in conceptual confusion and inadequate testing of the theory.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2009.00026.x

Cites

56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Handbook of Qualitative Research
Crozier, G., Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. (1994) · British Journal of Educational Studies · doi:10.2307/3121684 · Cited by 26,636 · see citing works
The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979) · Harvard University Press eBooks · doi:10.4159/9780674028845 · Cited by 26,084 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1994) · Cited by 13,126 · see citing works
Toward an experimental ecology of human development.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.32.7.513 · Cited by 10,853 · see citing works
A Handbook of Child Psychology
(1932) · Nature · doi:10.1038/130331a0 · Cited by 10,133 · see citing works
Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.22.6.723 · Cited by 7,004 · see citing works
The Bioecological Model of Human Development
Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2007) · Handbook of Child Psychology · doi:10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0114 · Cited by 5,760 · cited 1× · see citing works
“It was also from this time onwards that he discussed the Process–Person–Context–Time model (PPCT for short) that has become the essence of his theory (Bronfenbrenner, 2005; Bronfenbrenner & Evans, 2000; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006).”
Background
The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design
Garbarino, J. (1980) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/0190-7409(80)90036-5 · Cited by 5,549 · see citing works
Untitled work
(2005) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 3,609 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1994) · Cited by 3,556 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1998) · Cited by 3,292 · see citing works
Ecological systems theory.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (2000) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1037/10518-046 · Cited by 3,109 · see citing works
Nature-nurture reconceptualized in developmental perspective: A bioecological model.
Bronfenbrenner, U., & Ceci, S. J. (1994) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.101.4.568 · Cited by 2,973 · see citing works
Annals of Child Development
Ralston, C. W. (1992) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/00004703-199204000-00011 · Cited by 2,244 · see citing works
Developmental ecology through space and time: A future perspective.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (2004) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/10176-018 · Cited by 1,349 · see citing works
Developmental Science in the 21 st Century: Emerging Questions, Theoretical Models, Research Designs and Empirical Findings
Bronfenbrenner, U., & Evans, G. W. (2000) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/1467-9507.00114 · Cited by 1,302 · see citing works
The International Encyclopedia of Education
BATHO, G. R., Husén, T., & Postlethwaite, T. N. (1994) · British Journal of Educational Studies · doi:10.2307/3121682 · Cited by 1,256 · see citing works
Environments in developmental perspective: Theoretical and operational models.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1999) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/10317-001 · Cited by 1,136 · see citing works
Children of the Great Depression
Elder, G. H. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429501739-14 · Cited by 1,027 · see citing works
Examining lives in context: Perspectives on the ecology of human development.
(1995) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/10176-000 · Cited by 966 · see citing works
The Ecology of Cognitive Development: Research Models and Fugitive Findings
Bronfenbrenner, U. (2014) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315051888-17 · Cited by 582 · see citing works
Interacting systems in human development: Research paradigms: Present and future.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1988) · Cited by 310 · see citing works
Educational psychology: a century of contributions
(2004) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.41-4793 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Do risk factors for problem behaviour act in a cumulative manner? An examination of ethnic minority and majority children through an ecological perspective
Atzaba‐Poria, N., Pike, A., & Deater-Deckard, K. D. (2004) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00265.x · Cited by 234 · see citing works
High School‐Aged Youths' Attitudes Toward their Peers with Disabilities: the role of school and student interpersonal Factors
McDougall, J., DeWit, D. J., King, G. A., Miller, L. T., & Killip, S. M. (2004) · International Journal of Disability Development and Education · doi:10.1080/1034912042000259242 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
The Hubble hypothesis and the developmentalist's dilemma
Richters, J. E. (1997) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579497002022 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Factors Influencing College Aspirations of Rural West Virginia High School Students.
Chenoweth, E., & Galliher, R. V. (2004) · Journal of Research in Rural Education · Cited by 162 · see citing works
The Everyday Lives of Young Children: Culture, Class, and Child Rearing in Diverse Societies
Tudge, J. (2008) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511499890 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Self-citation
Human Lives in Changing Societies: Life Course and Developmental Insights
Elder, G. H. (1996) · Developmental Science · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511571114.004 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Social Integration, Work‐Family Conflict and Facilitation, and Job and Marital Quality
Voydanoff, P. (2005) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00161.x · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Rereporting of child maltreatment: Does participation in other public sector services moderate the likelihood of a second maltreatment report?
Drake, B., Jonson‐Reid, M., & Sapokaite, L. (2006) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.05.008 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Individual and School Structural Effects on African American High School Students' Academic Achievement
Stewart, E. B. (2007) · The High School journal/The High school journal · doi:10.1353/hsj.2008.0002 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Ecological influences of the home and the child-care center on preschool-age children's literacy development
Weigel, D. J., Martin, S. S. K., & Bennett, K. K. (2005) · Reading Research Quarterly · doi:10.1598/rrq.40.2.4 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
The Predictors of Parental Use of Corporal Punishment
Grogan‐Kaylor, A. C., & Otis, M. D. (2006) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00441.x · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Parental Mediation of Children's Television Viewing in Low-Income Families
Warren, R. (2005) · Journal of Communication · doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2005.tb03026.x · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Mothers’ Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Socialization of Transracially Adopted Asian Children*
Johnston, K. E., Swim, J. K., Saltsman, B. M., Deater-Deckard, K. D., & Petrill, S. A. (2007) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00468.x · Cited by 123 · see citing works
The Everyday Lives of Young Children: Culture, Class, and Child Rearing in Diverse Societies
Tudge, J. R. H. (2008) · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Self-citation
Culture and environment as predictors of alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms in American Indian youths
Yu, M., & Stiffman, A. R. (2007) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2007.01.008 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Biology-Environment Interaction and Evocative Biology-Environment Correlation: Contributions of Harsh Discipline and Parental Psychopathology to Problem Adolescent Behaviors
Riggins‐Caspers, K., Cadoret, R. J., Knutson, J. F., & Langbehn, D. R. (2003) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1023/a:1023434206261 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Relations between the everyday activities of preschoolers and their teachers’ perceptions of their competence in the first years of school
Tudge, J. R. H., Odero, D., Hogan, D., et al. (2003) · Early Childhood Research Quarterly · doi:10.1016/s0885-2006(03)00005-x · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citation
An Ecological Approach to Father Involvement in Biological and Stepfather Families
Adamsons, K. L., O’Brien, M., & Pasley, K. (2007) · Fathering A Journal of Theory Research and Practice about Men as Fathers · doi:10.3149/fth.0502.129 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Ecological Perspectives in Human Development: A Comparison of Gibson and Bronfenbrenner
Tudge, J. R. H., Gray, J. T., & Hogan, D. (1996) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511720345.004 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citation
An ecosystemic approach for understanding inclusive education: An Indian case study
Singal, N. (2006) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/bf03173413 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Parental Monitoring in African American, Single Mother-Headed Families
Jones, D. J., Forehand, R., Brody, G. H., & Armistead, L. P. (2003) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445503255432 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Comparisons in human development: understanding time and context
(1997) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.34-6543 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
The Development of Perceived Scholastic Competence and Global Self-Worth in African American Adolescents from Low-Income Families
Campbell, F. A., Pungello, E. P., & Miller‐Johnson, S. (2002) · Journal of Adolescent Research · doi:10.1177/0743558402173004 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“I Fell Off [the Mothering] Track”: Barriers to “Effective Mothering” Among Prostituted Women
Dalla, R. L. (2004) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00009.x · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Learning to Use Books and Television
Jordan, A. B. (2004) · American Behavioral Scientist · doi:10.1177/0002764204271513 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
The Effect of Intergenerational Conflict and School-Based Racial Discrimination on Depression and Academic Achievement in Filipino American Adolescents
Ying, Y., & Han, M. (2007) · Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies · doi:10.1300/j500v04n04_03 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Division of Household Labor and Family Functioning in Off‐Reservation Navajo Indian Families*
Hossain, Z. (2001) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2001.00255.x · Cited by 27 · see citing works
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DUAL-EARNER SPOUSES, STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH HOME–WORK DEMANDS AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Kulik, L., & Rayyan, F. (2006) · Community Work & Family · doi:10.1080/13668800600925100 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Developmental Research and Comparative Perspectives: Applications to Developmental Science
Winegar, L. T. (1996) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511720345.002 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Correlates of Parenting for Mothers and Fathers From English and Indian Backgrounds
Atzaba‐Poria, N., & Pike, A. (2008) · Parenting · doi:10.1080/15295190701665698 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Collaboration in the Context of Appalachia
Butera, G. D. (2005) · The Journal of Special Education · doi:10.1177/00224669050390020101 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
The Role of Context in Risk for Pediatric Injury: Influences from the Home and Child Care Environments
Schwebel, D. C., & Brezausek, C. M. (2007) · Merrill-palmer Quarterly · doi:10.1353/mpq.2007.0005 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Factors that Influence the College Attendance Decisions ofAppalachian Students
Chenoweth, E. C., & Galliher, R. V. (2004) · Journal of Research in Rural Education · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

[14]14. Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Sorted by citations

Urie Bronfenbrenner's Theory of Human Development: Its Evolution From Ecology to Bioecology
Rosa, E. M., & Tudge, J. (2013) · Journal of Family Theory & Review · doi:10.1111/jftr.12022 · Cited by 775 · see citing works
Self-citation
Technologizing Bronfenbrenner: Neo-ecological Theory.
Navarro, J. L., & Tudge, J. R. H. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-02738-3 · Cited by 325 · see citing works
Self-citation
Media: A Catalyst for Resilience in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth
Craig, S. L., McInroy, L., McCready, L. T., & Alaggia, R. (2015) · Journal of LGBT Youth · doi:10.1080/19361653.2015.1040193 · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Tantrums, toddlers and technology: Temperament, media emotion regulation, and problematic media use in early childhood
Coyne, S. M., Shawcroft, J., Gale, M., Gentile, D. A., Etherington, J. T., Holmgren, H., & Stockdale, L. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.106762 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Processing Proximal Processes: What Bronfenbrenner Meant, What He Didn't Mean, and What He Should Have Meant
Merçon‐Vargas, E. A., Lima, R. F. F., Rosa, E. M., & Tudge, J. (2020) · Journal of Family Theory & Review · doi:10.1111/jftr.12373 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Self-citation
Rethinking context: Digital technologies and children's everyday lives
Plowman, L. (2016) · Children's Geographies · doi:10.1080/14733285.2015.1127326 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Parental emotional warmth and psychological Suzhi as mediators between socioeconomic status and problem behaviours in Chinese children
Wu, L., Zhang, D., Cheng, G., Hu, T., & Rost, D. H. (2015) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.09.019 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Socioeconomic status and young children’s problem behaviours – mediating effects of parenting style and psychologicalsuzhi
Luo, S., Liu, Y., & Zhang, D. (2021) · Early Child Development and Care · doi:10.1080/03004430.2019.1608196 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Urie Bronfenbrenner: Toward an Evolutionary Ecological Systems Theory
Hertler, S. C., Figueredo, A. J., Peñaherrera-Aguirre, M., Fernandes, H. B. F., & Woodley of Menie, M. A. (2018) · Life History Evolution · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90125-1_19 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Associations among Head Start fathers’ involvement with their preschoolers and child language skills.
Fagan, J., Iglesias, A., & Kaufman, R. (2016) · Early Child Development and Care · doi:10.1080/03004430.2015.1094654 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Parent-child attachment and good behavior habits among Chinese children: Chain mediation effect of parental involvement and psychological Suzhi
Mo, X., Wang, Z., & Shao, J. (2021) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0241586 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Changing trends of internet use across late childhood: A three-wave longitudinal study
Shi, H., Chu, X., Liu, Y., Wachs, S., Cao, M., Peng, J., & Zhou, Z. (2024) · Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2024.101646 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Authors: Tudge, J. R. H., Mokrova, I., Hatfield, B. E., & Karnik, R. B.
Affiliations: University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
Corresponding author: Tudge, Jonathan R. H.
ORCID: Tudge, Jonathan R. H.
Mokrova, Irina
Hatfield, Bridget E.
Venue: Journal of Family Theory & Review
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2009-12
Volume: 1
Issue: 4
Pages: 198-210
ISSN: 1756-2570 (ISSN-L)
1756-2589
DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2009.00026.x
OpenAlex: W2122458328
Semantic Scholar: d71f22dbc4c95a9b0cf3951b68b876369880d05e
Cited by: 879
References: 56
Citations by year: 2026: 60 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 81 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 62 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 45 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 25
FWCI: 33.36
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
libres.uncg.edu
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 10 d)
Locations: Journal of Family Theory & Review (publishedVersion)
NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Social Sciences › Education › Early Childhood Education and Development
Keywords: Bronfenbrenner, bioecological model, human development, family relationships, Process-Person-Context-Time model, proximal processes, family research, conceptual confusion

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Uses and Misuses of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory of Human Development

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Self-check

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks