Chinese Mothers Research Articles

Culture, Emotion Socialization and Children’s Inhibitory Control

ABSTRACT In the current study, we investigated the relations among maternal emotion socialization practices and children’s inhibitory control (IC) performance in Chinese and European American families. Fifty-three Chinese (Mage = 60 months) and 52 European American (Mage = 50 months) children and their mothers participated in this study. Maternal emotion socialization was assessed using mothers’ reported reactions to children’s negative emotions by completing the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES). Child IC was assessed through two observational measures. Results revealed significant group differences. Specifically, Chinese mothers adopted more harsh responses and less distress responses as compared to European American mothers. Chinese children scored higher on IC than did European American children. Moderation analyses also suggest that maternal harsh responses and distress responses were negatively related to children’s IC performance for European American group but not for Chinese group.

From Offline to Online: Understanding Chinese Single Mothers' Uncertainty Management in Interpersonal and Online Contexts.

Divorced and unwed single motherhood is heavily stigmatized in Chinese cultural context, preventing Chinese single mothers from actively seeking the information and support needed and negatively impacting their wellbeing. Drawing on the theory of motivated information management (TMIM), this study tested how perceived stigma and cultural norms influenced Chinese single mothers’ search for information and social support from families, friends as well as from online communities. Using two-wave data collected from 226 single mothers, findings support the utility of the TMIM in explaining information management and support seeking behaviors and contribute to situating the TMIM process within larger socio-cultural contexts. Practical implications regarding how to facilitate more effective uncertainty management and enhance Chinese single mothers’ wellbeing in interpersonal vs. online contexts are discussed.

Perceived Stress Positively Relates to Insomnia Symptoms: The Moderation of Resilience in Chinese Pregnant Women During COVID-19.

BackgroundThe government’s COVID-19 pandemic response lockdown strategy had a negative psychological and physical impact on individuals, which necessitated special care to pregnant women’s mental health. There has been no large-scale research on the underlying relationship between perceived stress and insomnia symptoms in pregnant Chinese women up to this point. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to see if there was an association between perceived stress and insomnia symptoms, as well as the moderating impact of resilience for Chinese pregnant women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study examined 2115 pregnant women from central and western China using multi-stage sampling methodologies. A systematic questionnaire was used to collect information on sleep quality, perceived stress, and resilience using the Insomnia Severity Index, Perceptual Stress Scale, and Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale. To assess the moderating influence of resilience, hierarchical regressions were used.ResultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, 18.53% of respondents (N = 2115) reported experiencing sleeplessness. In pregnant women, perceived stress was positively linked with insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001). Furthermore, resilience significantly attenuated the influence of perceived stress on insomnia symptoms in Chinese expectant mother (βinteraction = −0.0126, p < 0.001).ConclusionPregnant women with strong resilience were less influenced by perceived stress than those with poor resilience. The findings of this study might give empirical proof that health care professionals should identify the relevance of reducing perceived stress in pregnant women with poor resilience and provide better treatment and support when necessary.

Profile of Twenty-Three Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Han Chinese Mothers throughout Postpartum 1 year

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are multifunctional carbohydrates in breast milk, which are composed by a variety of structures. This study aimed to identified HMOs concentration profile, milk microbiota composition, and the associations with major maternal characteristics in Han Chinese mothers in the one-year lactation period. Seventeen healthy mothers aged from 28 to 36 years, who gave birth to healthy term infants, were recruited. Carbohydrates were detected using the MIRIS human milk analyzer (HMA), and twenty-three HMOs were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Results showed that carbohydrates were relatively stable, while total HMO concentrations ranged from 1.74 to 9.72 g/L and decreased gradually over lactation in breast milk. Based on the structure, seven sialylated HMOs concentration showed the significant decline (p&lt;0.05) after three months in lactation. In addition, the relationships between maternal factors, containing the lactation period, genetic status, delivery mode, parity, and milk microbiota profile, and the HMO composition in healthy women, which still need further investigations, were observed.

Chinese childbearing decision-making in mainland China in the post-one-child-policy era.

In 2016, China enacted its two-child policy, further lifted to a three-child policy in 2021, in response to low birth rates and imbalanced sex ratios resulting from the almost 40-year one-child policy. Despite this, China's birthrate is at a historic low as fewer parents are having children. Now more than ever, inductive explorations are needed to understand what motivates Chinese parents to have first and second children in the post-one-child policy era, particularly explorations that situate individual decision-making within the larger social context. Individual and relational choices occur in larger sociopolitical contexts. Understanding these "personal" actions involves considering how micro and macro processes inform each other. In this study, we elicited qualitative responses from Chinese mothers (N=117) with two children in early childhood (firstborn ≤8years old) from Liao Ning province. Most mothers were well educated, employed, and married to children's fathers. Using inductive thematic analysis procedures, we coded qualitative responses about the factors that motivated mothers to have first and second children. Our data revealed that (a) mothers expressed different reasons for having firstborns compared to secondborns, and (b) decision-making occurred against a backdrop of interacting micro-level and macro-level influences (e.g., cultural norms, national policy changes). In particular, mothers described the decision to have secondborns as more deliberative than with firstborns, considering long-term benefits siblinghood and shared demands of elderly caregiving. If efforts to stimulate the national birthrate are likely to succeed, policymakers should consider micro-level as well as macro-level factors that shape mothers' childbearing decision-making.

Postpartum Diet and the Lifestyle of Korean and Chinese Women: A Comparative Study

ObjectiveThe study investigated and compared postpartum diet and behaviors, nutrition education, and psychological health status among Korean and Chinese postpartum women (0–6 months after delivery).MethodsA total of 221 Korean mothers in Gyeonggi-do (South Korea) and 221 mothers in Jinhua (China) participated in the survey between November and December 2018, and the results were statistically analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 software.ResultsMany postpartum behaviors, such as postpartum diet pattern and care duration differed between Korean and Chinese mothers. The former showed a stronger desire for nutrition education compared with the latter (p < 0.001). Korean mothers' life and meal satisfaction, and contentment with their husband's support were all ~0.5 points higher compared with Chinese mothers, particularly regarding spousal support (p < 0.001). Postpartum depression stresses positively correlated with postpartum infant care stress and negatively correlated with life satisfaction. In addition, primipara mothers were more in need of infant care support and guidance concerning appropriate baby-feeding techniques compared with multipara mothers.ConclusionTraditional culture was a crucial factor that influenced the perceptions of postpartum women in South Korea and China. Culturally tailored nutrition education and exercise programs may benefit Korean and Chinese women after childbirth.

Chinese mothers' parental burnout and adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems: The mediating role of maternal hostility.

Parental burnout is a state that parents feel exhausted in their parental role. Although past research has examined concurrent correlates of parental burnout, the impacts of parental burnout on adolescent development over time remain largely unknown. The current study explored the indirect mechanisms linking mothers' parental burnout to adolescents' later internalizing and externalizing problems through maternal hostility among Chinese families. Using a sample of 606 adolescents (51.5% boys; Mage = 12.89 years old) and their mothers (Mage = 38.50 years old), this three-wave longitudinal study showed that mothers' parental burnout was predictive of adolescents' perceptions of their mothers' parental hostility over time, which were in turn related to adolescents' later internalizing and externalizing problems. Moreover, mothers' parental burnout was directly related to adolescents' later externalizing problems. Taken together, parental burnout played a role in adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems over time through increased parental hostility. These findings underscore the importance of parental burnout on parenting behavior and adolescent adjustment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Pandangan Tokoh Arjuna Terhadap Stereotip Perempuan dalam Novel Populer Perempuan Bernama Arjuna Karya Remy Sylado

This study aims to describe the image and stereotype of Indonesian women and the resistance ofthe character Arjuna in the popular novel Perempuan Bernama Arjuna against the image andstereotype that is widely developed. Arjuna is an Indonesian woman, father of a Chinese descentand mother who has thick Javanese blood. Arjuna, who is 25 years old, is a philosophy student ata university in the Netherlands. The method used in this research is descriptive analytic methodusing literature review technique. The data source used is the novel Perempuan Bernama Arjunaby Remy Sylado. The results of this study indicate that in the novel Perempuan Bernama Arjuna,there are 13 stereotypes of women. Of the 13 stereotypes of women that emerged, there were 10stereotypes that Arjuna refuted and considered not really representative of what womenexperienced, including himself, for example regarding women whose beauty is only judged fromtheir physical appearance. For him, the beauty of women is not only seen from the physical,more than that, women can also be judged from their intellectual level. There will be no use if awoman is physically beautiful, but does not have a qualified level of intelligence. In addition,there are 3 stereotypes of women whose existence Arjuna agrees with is also attached to him, forexample about women who are not used to speaking frankly as is in their hearts and heads.Arjuna who was educated by a mother who came from the Javanese tribe also adheres to onething taught by his mother, namely that a woman must be good at watching hermouth.

Mother’s Parenting Stress and Marital Satisfaction During the Parenting Period: Examining the Role of Depression, Solitude, and Time Alone

This study examines the mechanism of maternal parenting stress on marital satisfaction based on the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model (VSAM), and draws on the needs theory to explore the role of alone time in marital relationships under different solitude preferences. The marital satisfaction Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Parenting Stress Scale (PSS), Preference for Solitude Scale (PSS), and alone time scale were used to conduct a questionnaire survey of 1,387 Chinese mothers in their parenting stage. The results found that: (1) in the overall group and the high and low solitude preference level group, depression plays a significant mediating role between parenting stress and marital satisfaction. (2) For mothers who prefer solitude, alone time can reduce the positive impact of parenting stress on depression, and but it cannot alleviate the negative impact of parenting stress and depression on marital satisfaction. (3) In the low solitude preference level group, alone time can aggravate the positive impact of parenting stress on depression and the negative impact of parenting stress on marital satisfaction.

The Presence of Meaning in Parenthood, Perceived Social Support, and Happiness of Mothers Living in Hong Kong: A Comparative Study on Younger and Older Mothers.

This study investigates whether and how mothers’ meaning of parenthood and their perceived social support interact and are associated with their happiness. Similarities and differences in these areas between younger and older mothers are also explored. A total of 1292 Chinese mothers were recruited from different Hong Kong communities; 361 were 24 years of age and younger and were categorized as younger mothers, and 931 were older than 24 years of age and were categorized as older mothers. Multiple regression analyses were performed to discern direct and interaction effects. The results show that older mothers were happier than younger mothers and indicate that parental meaning and perceived social support had a positive effect on the happiness of both younger and older mothers. Notably, while the results reveal significant interaction effects between the meaning of parenthood and perceived social support from significant others and friends on the happiness of older mothers, these effects are not found among younger mothers. This study suggests that the social support young mothers receive from their significant others and friends does not amplify the association between their meaning of parenthood and happiness. These findings provide insights into the importance of synergizing social support and meaning-making among younger mothers.

Validation of a quantitative measure for meaning in parenthood among Chinese mothers in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to validate the Meaning in Parenthood Questionnaire (MPQ) among Chinese mothers in Hong Kong. Based on the data collected from 854 Chinese mothers, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the factor structure of the scale. The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the scale were also examined. EFA yielded a twofold factor structure (i.e. presence of meaning and search for meaning in parenthood) with ten items, which was supported by the CFA and explained 62.1% of the total variance. The Cronbach’s alpha indicates a satisfactory reliability of MPQ-Presence and MPQ-Search subscales (i.e. .788 and .883, respectively). The construct validity of both MPQ-Presence and MPQ-Search subscales were established by their significant correlations with parental efficacy and life satisfaction. The MPQ as a reliable and valid scale can enable researchers and practitioners to measure meaning in parenthood.

The pregnancy experiences and antenatal care services of Chinese migrants in Switzerland: a qualitative study

BackgroundDifferences in reproductive health outcomes according to the mothers’ origins have been reported in Switzerland, for example, women from European countries and non-European countries. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has therefore called for specific Swiss-wide studies on migrant populations. This study explores the pregnancy and antenatal care experiences of Chinese migrants in Switzerland, intending to clarify their maternity care needs.MethodsIn-depth interviews of 14 Chinese mothers and 13 family members were conducted in Chinese or English and audio recorded. All audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim. All Chinese transcripts were translated into English. Thematic analysis was performed with the assistance of the qualitative data analysis software, MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020.ResultsFive themes were extracted from the transcripts: (1) Motivations and concerns about having children, (2) The merits of the Swiss maternity care system, (3) The inconveniences and barriers of accessing Swiss maternity care services, (4) Strategies to deal with the inconveniences of the Swiss maternity care system, and (5) The need for culturally sensitive care.ConclusionsThe results of our study provide new knowledge and understanding of pregnancy experiences and antenatal care services of Chinese mothers and their families in Switzerland. Their unique positive experiences included: family planning, the continuity of maternity services, humane care with the privacy respected, personalized sensitive care needs, preferences for female obstetricians and obstetricians of Asian origin. Several barriers were highlighted, such as information seeking difficulties, communication difficulties, and a rigid appointment system. Reducing barriers enabling access to maternity care services within the Swiss healthcare system is necessary to provide equal quality maternity care for individuals, irrespective of their origins.

“Middle‐aged Old Mothers” in China: Childrearing Anxiety, Humor, and the Narrative Self

AbstractWith the rise of hyper education in contemporary China, the phrase “middle‐aged old mother” has become an important narrative identity for mothers over 30 in the urban middle class. Based on ethnographic and virtual fieldwork from 2018 to 2020, this paper weaves together interviews, observation, and social media data to examine mothers’ moral experience of childrearing anxiety in Beijing. This article goes beyond the surface content of “middle‐aged old mother” narratives and instead highlights the narrative context, style, intention, and effect. It aims to understand their first‐person narratives of parenting characterized by heightened uncertainty, high stakes, self‐reflexivity, and gender inequalities. The “middle‐aged old mother” script provides a template for and becomes the “co‐author” of Chinese mothers’ auto‐narratives: It blends self‐mockery, personal story, and social critique in an environment of intensifying competition and moral quandaries. The term is a deliberate act of humor and an invitation for empathy.

Validation of a Chinese translation of the Parents’ Beliefs About Children’s Emotions questionnaire and measurement invariance across Chinese and US mothers

Validation of a Chinese translation of the Parents’ Beliefs About Children’s Emotions questionnaire and measurement invariance across Chinese and US mothers

Gendered Division of Digital Labor in Parenting: A Qualitative Study in Urban China.

The gendered division of domestic labor is a key topic in gender and family studies. While there has been extensive discussion of time use and the division of physical, emotional, and mental labor in housework and childcare within couples, the division of digital labor in the family has not been systematically examined. Drawing on qualitative data obtained from 147 parents in 84 urban Chinese families, this study reveals prominent gender differences in digital labor in parenting by comparing urban Chinese mothers’ and fathers’ use of digital technology and media in searching for parenting information, maintaining online communication with teachers, and shopping online and using online education services for their children. The findings demonstrate an unequal division of digital labor in urban Chinese families, in which mothers shoulder most of the digital labor in parenting. This study enriches the feminist literature by demonstrating the mutual construction of gender and digital technology in the domestic sphere and highlighting a new form of domestic labor divided between husbands and wives in the digital age. This study challenges liberating and progressive myths surrounding digital technology and calls for academic reflection and public attention on its constraining and exploitative implications for women.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11199-021-01267-w.

Mainland Chinese Mothers’ Autonomy Support Across Four Caregiving Contexts

Mainland Chinese Mothers’ Autonomy Support Across Four Caregiving Contexts

Ask, Bid, Buy! Online Impulse Buying Behaviour of Ethnic Chinese Mothers in Indonesia

Ask, Bid, Buy! Online Impulse Buying Behaviour of Ethnic Chinese Mothers in Indonesia

The Relationship between Chinese Mothers’ Language Input and the Language Skills of Children Aged 3 - 6 Years

This study investigated the relationship between Chinese mothers’ language input (verbal productivity and interaction behaviors) and language skills of children aged 3 - 6 years. Data on mothers’ language input were videotaped from semi-structured mother-child interactions. The main findings revealed 1) The relationship between mothers’ verbal productivity and children’s language skills. There were significant positive correlations between the mothers’ number of total utterances (NTU) and number of total utterances, number of different words (NDW), and number of total words (NTW) of the children. There were significant positive correlations between mothers’ mean length of utterance (MLU) and children’s MLU, NDW, and NTW. There were significant positive correlations between mothers’ NDW and NTW and children’s NTU, NDW, and NTW. 2) The relationship between mothers’ interaction behaviors and children’s language skills. There was a significant negative correlation between mothers’ directive utterances and children’s MLU. There were significant positive correlations between mothers’ conversational utterances and children’s NTU, NDW, and NTW. These findings provide evidence for the relationship between Chinese mothers’ language input and children’s language skills at ages 3 - 6 years and provide a reference point for how Chinese mothers promote children’s language development.

Lack of alternative: Chinese first-time mothers' construction of social support network of online secondary groups.

BackgroundAs a result of rapid modernization and the long-term implementation of One Child Policy, Chinese first-time mothers’ primary child-raising social support network is gradually shrinking. At the same time, the social support system for child raising is still very incomplete. Therefore, Chinese first-time mothers generally face great pressure.ObjectiveThis paper aims to understand Chinese first-time mothers’ construction of social support network of online secondary groups.MethodsThis paper employs a qualitative research method, with semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, two focus groups and observations conducted in nine online child-raising communities.ResultsBased on the principle of instrumental rationality first-time mothers use various strategies to join different types of online communities and their online social support network is always the dynamic changing. The online social support network is a supplementary channel in which first-time mothers can obtain both instrumental and emotional support. But communication risks and ethical issues remain, such as information exchange interfered by commercial capital, widespread anxiety and superficial social relationships.ConclusionsOnline social support network is an alternative for Chinese first-time mothers and they urgently need a more well-rounded social support network system with government leading and multiple subjects participating in it.

The Use of Interaction Strategies in Mother-Child Joint Book Reading for Ages 3 to 6 in China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of interaction strategies used by Chinese mothers and children in the process of joint book reading and the effect of the use of interaction strategies on children’s language. Participants were drawn from 74 mother-child dyads in mainland China, and the mean ages of the children were 36, 48, 60, and 72 months. The results showed that 1) among Chinese mothers and children aged 3 to 6 years, only mothers’ MLU differed significantly among the four age groups and was highest when the children were 3 years old, significantly higher than other age groups. 2) mothers’ attract attention strategies, feedback strategies, provide information strategies, and repeat or clarify strategies differed significantly across age groups, while none of the other interaction strategy types differed significantly; There were no significant differences in children’s all interaction strategies across age groups. 3) Except for no response, all interaction strategies used by mothers were significantly and positively related to some of the children’s interaction strategies. 4) Many of the mother’s interaction strategies positively predicted the child’s corresponding interaction strategies, with mother’s feedback and propose evaluation strategies being the strongest positive predictors of the children’s provided information strategies use. The educational implications and suggestions for further research were discussed.