Dimensions Of Mothers Research Articles

Dyadic examination of parents' general psychological distress and coparenting in families with young children: The mediating role of couple satisfaction

AbstractThe current research explored the dyadic relationships between general psychological distress (GPD) and coparenting dimensions (cooperation, conflict, triangulation) through the mediation of couple satisfaction among parents with young children. The sample comprised 184 heterosexual couples (184 mothers, 184 fathers, age range from 25 to 57 years) married for 10 years on average. The actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) and APIM Mediation Model analyses demonstrated significant relationships between mothers' and fathers' GPD and all three of their own coparenting dimensions (direct actor effects), also through their own couple satisfaction (indirect actor–actor effects). Additionally, mothers' GPD had direct effects on fathers' coparenting cooperation (partner effect). Fathers' GPD had significant indirect effects on all dimensions of mothers' coparenting through mothers' couple satisfaction (partner–actor effects), plus on mothers' coparenting triangulation through fathers' couple satisfaction (actor–partner effect). Findings were in line with Family System Theory and consistent with prior research. Clinical implications were discussed.

The relationship between postpartum mothers’ dyadic coping and adjustment and psychological well-being

This study determines the relationship between postpartum mothers’ dyadic coping and adjustment strategies and their psychological well-being. The study design was descriptive and correlational; it was conducted in the pediatric outpatient clinic of a maternity hospital in Northern Türkiye. A total of 327 1–12 month postpartum mothers participated in the study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Mothers’ behavior as an individual and as a couple in dyadic coping, their perception of their partner’s behavior, and weak dyadic harmony between partners was significantly associated with risk factors affecting mothers’ psychological well-being (p < 0.05). A weak relationship was found between the dimensions of mothers’ psychological well-being and their perception of their own behavior in dyadic coping; a positive moderate relationship was found between mothers’ perception of their partner’s behavior in dyadic coping and behaviors exhibited as a couple in dyadic coping, and the former had a weak positive relationship with the dimensions of dyadic harmony and its subdimensions (p < 0.05). Self-perceived coping behavior, perception of the partner’s behavior, and joint coping behavior in dyadic coping, and weak dyadic harmony between partners were significant risk factors affecting mothers’ psychological well-being. Awareness of these factors by health professionals and individuals will increase the effectiveness of postpartum care and help couples adapt to the transition in the postpartum period, improve mother-father-infant interaction and strengthen dyadic harmony.

Changing parenting style between two generations and its impacts on the severity of behavioral and emotional symptoms.

The purpose of this study is to compare the perceived parenting dimensions in mothers and their daughters (differences between two generations), and study the relationship between these dimensions and the severity of daughters' behavioral and emotional symptoms. 300 participants (150 daughters with their mothers) participated in this study. They responded to the perceived parenting styles questionnaire (PSQ), and mothers were additionally asked to answer the child symptoms inventory-4 (CSI-4). Data analysis was done by the SPSS using the paired sample t-test and multiple regressions. The results indicated a significant difference between perceived parenting dimensions in mothers and their daughters; specifically, acceptance and control dimensions increased through generation. It was also found that daughters' acceptance-rejection dimension could predict the severity of the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, autism spectrum disorders, depression, dysthymia, conduct disorders, and opposite defiant disorders. The control-autonomy dimension could also predict the severity of schizophrenia symptoms. The results indicate the different parenting styles between two generations and the critical role of parenting in developing the children's psychopathology symptoms.

Negotiating ‘ideal worker’ and intensive mothering ideologies: Australian mothers’ emotional geographies during their commutes

ABSTRACT Individualized, maternalist and marketized discourses of childcare are pervasive in Australia as they are in other liberal welfare states. Responsibility is overwhelmingly placed on mothers to carry out most childcare work themselves or to arrange informal or paid childcare. One of the key tasks for most employed mothers is transporting children alongside their commuting journeys. In this context we used mapping/graphic elicitation interviews with 45 Australian employed mothers to explore their commuting experiences through the lens of emotional geographies. Our findings reveal that mothers’ experiences of their commutes were shaped by negotiations with intensive mothering and ‘ideal worker’ ideologies during this journey resulting in emotions of guilt, shame and stress. The spatial and temporal organization of childcare, and incompatibilities between their commuting transport needs and the organization of public transport and parking, tended to amplify these tensions. Through an emotional geographies lens we complicate linear understandings of commuting and mainstream transport and planning work, while calling for more attention to the affective and relational dimensions of mothers’ everyday geographies of care and paid work.

Comparison of General Health, Coping Styles, Religious Orientations, and Personality Dimensions between Mothers with Intellectual Disability Children and Mothers with Normal Children

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare general health, coping styles, religious orientations, and personality dimensions of mothers with intellectually disable (ID) and normal children. Methods: A total of 258 mothers were randomly selected. The data were collected using questionnaires of General Health, NEO Five Factors, Islamic Religiosity, and Ways of Coping. Then, the independent-sample T test was run to analyze the results. Results: Comparison of the participants' mean scores showed that the general health of mothers with ID children was lower than mothers with normal children. Compared to mothers with normal children, mothers with ID children used emotional focus coping styles more frequently. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups with regard to application of problem focus coping style. Mothers of ID children were more disorganized than mothers with normal children. Comparison of the mean scores of personality dimensions between the two groups revealed that mothers of ID children had higher scores in neuroticism and lower scores in extraversion, openness, agreeable, and consciousness. Conclusion: With respect to the numerous problems that mothers of children with ID experience, it seems necessary to take actions to solve their problems and to improve their health status.

Adult attachment and birth experience: importance of a secure base and safe haven during childbirth

ABSTRACTObjective: Examine connections between mothers’ adult attachment and subjective birth experience in the context of parity and mode of delivery.Background: Research has established a clear connection between adult attachment and birth experience. This study extended previous research with an in-depth self-report attachment measure examining different dimensions of mothers’ attachment representations and their relation to subjective birth experience. Interactions between mode of delivery and parity were also considered. Method: Participants were 257 mothers who gave birth 4 days to 12 months prior to the study. Mothers’ mean age was 30.5 years, 61% primiparas, and 26% delivered by caesarean. Participants completed an online survey with the Birth Experience Questionnaire, the Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire, and demographic information.Results: Hierarchical moderated regression analyses showed direct effects from adult attachment dimensions to mothers’ subjective birth experiences, specifically perceived availability, feared loss, separation protest, angry withdrawal, and compulsive careseeking. Interactions emerged for parity and/or mode of delivery for overall subjective birth experience, perceived control, perceived social support, and satisfaction.Conclusion: Adult attachment representations related to subjective birth experience, indicating that attachment figures serve as secure bases and safe havens for mothers during childbirth. These results have implications for practitioners and provide direction for future research.

Harsh parenting practices mediate the association between parent affective profiles and child adjustment outcomes: Differential associations for mothers and fathers

Children’s early emotional environment strongly influences their later behavioural development. Yet, besides maternal depression, limited knowledge exists about the effect of other emotions and the role of fathers. Using 290 triads (mother/father/child), we investigated how positive (SEEKING, CARING, PLAYFULNESS) and negative (FEAR, ANGER, SADNESS) dimensions of mothers’ and fathers’ affectivity relate to their offspring’s externalizing and internalizing behaviours directly as well as indirectly via parenting practices. Parental variables were measured when children were 4 years old and children’s behaviours were measured at 8 years of age. Latent Profile Analysis identified three parental affective profiles: low negative emotions, balanced, and high emotional. Structural equation models showed that, for boys, mothers’ low negative emotions and high emotional profiles predicted later internalizing behaviours (direct effect; β = −0.21 and β = 0.23), while fathers’ low negative emotions profile predicted externalizing behaviours indirectly (β = −0.10). For girls, mothers’ profiles (low negative emotions and high emotional) predicted both internalizing (β = −0.04 and β = 0.07) and externalizing (β = −0.05 and β = 0.09) behaviours indirectly, but no effects of fathers’ profiles were found. Mothers’ and fathers’ affective profiles contributed to the behavioural development of their offspring in different ways, according to the type of behaviour (internalizing or externalizing) and the child’s sex. These findings may help in tailoring existing parenting interventions on affective profiles, thus enhancing their efficacy.

Parenting children with down syndrome: An analysis of parenting styles, parenting dimensions, and parental stress

BackgroundEffective parenting is vital for a child’s development. Although much work has been conducted on parenting typically developing children, little work has examined parenting children with Down syndrome. AimsThe purpose of the current study was to compare the parenting styles and dimensions in mothers of children with DS and mothers of TD children. Methods and proceduresThirty-five mothers of children with DS and 47 mothers of TD children completed questionnaires about parenting, parental stress, child behavior problems, and child executive function. Outcomes and resultsWe found that mothers of children with DS use an authoritative parenting style less and a permissive parenting style more than mothers of TD children. Additionally, we found that mothers of children with DS use reasoning/induction and verbal hostility less and ignoring misbehavior more than mothers of TD children. All of these differences, except for those of reasoning/induction, were at least partially accounted for by the higher levels of parental stress in the DS group. Conclusions and implicationsParenting interventions should be focused on reducing parental stress and training mothers to parent under stress in an effort to improve parenting techniques, which would, in theory, improve long-term child outcomes for children with DS.

Investigation of parental stress, social support and quality of life in mothers of children with precocious puberty

Objective To investigate the parental stress, social support and quality of life in mothers of children with precocious puberty, and to explore the impact of parental stress and social support on the quality of life. Methods A questionnaire survey of 96 mothers of children with precocious puberty was conducted using the Family Stress Index, Social Support Rating Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life Survey (Chinese version) . Results The total score of parental stress and the scores of different dimensions in mothers with precocious puberty were significantly higher than those of normal parents (P<0.01) . The total score of social support of mothers with precocious puberty was significantly higher than that of domestic norm (P<0.01) . The scores of quality of life of mothers with precocious puberty were significantly lower than those of domestic norm in the field of physiology and psychology (P<0.01) . Negative correlation existed not only between parental stress and quality of life, but also between parental stress and social support. Positive correlation existed between social support and quality of life. Conclusions The mothers of children with precocious puberty have high parental pressure, high social support and low quality of life. There are correlations among the three dimensions. Offering health education and mental nursing can improve the compliance during the therapy and the quality of life of both children and family. Key words: Social support; Quality of life; Precocious puberty; Children; Mother; Parental stress

Psychiatric dimensions in mothers of children with primary nocturnal enuresis: A controlled study

The etiology of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is not fully understood, but multifactorial factors have been associated with PNE. Parental factors, including attitudes to PNE, disciplinary behaviors, and psychiatric comorbidities in parents have been related to etiology of PNE, outcomes and the quality of life in children with enuresis. We examined the psychopathology in mothers of children diagnosed with monosymptomatic PNE(MoPNE) compared with mothers of non-enuretic children (MoNEC) in terms of personality characteristics, early traumatic experiences, and psychiatric symptom evaluation. The study included 44 mothers of children diagnosed with PNE and 45 mothers of non-enuretic children who were randomly selected from the population applying to the pediatric outpatient clinic. Individuals were assessed through psychometric questionnaires, including the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised Abbreviated (EPQR-A), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), in addition to a sociodemographic form including 9 structured "yes/no" questions that evaluated intrafamilial relationships, as well as mothers' perceptions of enuresis and its treatment. The median age of enuretic children was 7 (6, 9.5) (25th, 75th) years in the study population. The rates of history of enuresis in childhood were 26.7% in the MoPNE group (n=12) and 6.7% in the MoNEC group (n=3; p=0.011). There were significant differences between the groups for the subscales of somatization, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, hostility, phobic anxiety, additional items, and the general psychopathology index in the SCL-90-R scores (p<0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference for the subscale of paranoid ideation (p=0.070). There were statistically significant results for the subscales of sexual abuse, physical neglect, and total score in CTQ scale, while the personality dimensions evaluated using the EPQR-A resulted in significant differences in the E and L subscales (p<0.05) (Table). Our study showed that psychiatric symptomatology and childhood traumatic experiences were considerably higher in mothers of children with PNE. This study highlights the importance of evaluating PNE not only from a biological aspect, but also in terms of psychosocial factors, including assessment of the mother's mental status.

Editorial comment: “Psychiatric dimensions in mothers of children with primary nocturnal enuresis: A controlled study”

While much of the literature on nocturnal enuresis has focused on the psychopathology of the affected child, the novelty of this paper is the focus on the psychiatric make-up of their mothers. The authors found that mothers of children with monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis (MPNE) had higher psychopathology, more abusive attitudes towards their children, and were more likely to have suffered childhood trauma than mothers without children with MPNE. They speculated that these factors are contributors to the etiology of enuresis, and concluded that assessment of the mother’s psychosocial characteristics should be an integral part of the evaluation and management of enuresis. While the authors’ findings are certainly provocative, flaws in study design and substantial limitations hamper this study. One major flaw is the failure to account for the role of fathers. Although the authors argue that, in their society, mothers are the primary caregivers, one cannot discount the influence of fathers in the family unit. As evident in the authors’ own data, mothers of children with MPNE reported higher rates of abuse of their children by their spouses. Likewise, a previous study showed the importance of the father’s role in finding that the highest incidence of enuresis occurred in families reporting an authoritarian paternal parenting style [1]. In this study, the authors found higher rates of psychopathology in mothers of children with MPNE and attributed this as a cause of their child’s enuresis. However, without details such as the severity and duration of enuresis, one cannot be certain that the higher maternal psychopathology found may be the

Relationship between parent-infant attachment and parental satisfaction with supportive nursing care.

Background:Parent–infant attachment is an important factor in accepting parenting role, accelerating infant survival, and adjusting to the environment outside the uterus. Since family supportive interventions can strengthen the parent–infant caring relationship, this study sought to investigate the relationship between mother–infant attachment and satisfaction of the mothers with the supportive nursing care received in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Materials and Methods:In this descriptive–correlational study, 210 mothers with premature infants who were hospitalized in the NICUs affiliated to Isfahan Medical University hospitals took part. The data were collected via Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale and researcher's self-tailored questionnaire based on Nurse Parent Support Tool. Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the collected data.Results:The results showed that the overall score of mother–infant attachment and the overall score of maternal satisfaction correlated with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.195. Also, the overall score of mother–infant attachment and mothers’ satisfaction scores in the emotional, communicative-informative, and self-confidence domains correlated with correlation coefficients of r = 0.182, r = 0.0.189, and r = 0.0.304, respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that about 15% of changes in the dependent variable (mother–infant attachment) could be explained by different dimensions of mothers’ satisfaction.Conclusions:The results of the study showed that mother–infant attachment improved by increasing mothers’ satisfaction of supportive nursing care. Therefore, it seems necessary to increase maternal satisfaction through given nursing care support, in order to promote mother–infant attachment.

Lived-in Experience of Mothers with Mentally Retarded Children in Selected Schools, Bangalore: A Phenomenological Approach

A qualitative design was used to explore and describe the experiences of caring for a mentally retarded child at home as lived by their mothers in Bangalore. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected sample of fifteen mothers parenting a child with MR who attended a Special School were interviewed. The lived experiences of mothers were analyzed thematically by using Colazzi’s analysis. Six major themes were found in the data. The subthemes identified were: Before: Denial and difficult to accept child condition, After: Acceptance about child condition, Present: Fear about future, Life change: Vague physical symptoms, Life change: Change in daily activities, Husband relation: Supportive, In-laws relation: Neglected support, Normal child relation: Accepted and supportive, Societal relation: Full of stigma and discrimination, Confined role in society: Avoiding societal circumstances, Financial difficulties: Increase expenses, Extra works: To manage financial difficulties, Reaction on expenses on my child: Negative and discouraging, Spiritual belief Change: Change in belief towards god, Spiritual relation: High intensified belief towards god, Alternative methods to satisfy spiritual distress. The present study attempted to explore the lived-in experience of mothers with mentally retarded children and found that various dimension of mothers were affected on caring the child.

The Role of Parental Temperament Traits in Disruptive Behavioral Disorders of Children with ADHD

Introduction No study up to now investigated the role of parental temperament traits in disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objectives To determine the relationships between parent temperament characteristics and child DBD symptoms in children with ADHD. Methods The sample consisted of 542 treatment naive children with ADHD aged 6-17 years. All children had to be living with both biological mothers and fathers. The severity of ADHD and comorbid DBD were assessed via parent and teacher rated Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale. Temperamental dimensions of mothers and fathers were measured by TEMPS-A. The association between parental ADHD and DBD was evaluated with two separate structural equation models. Results Relationships of parent ADHD and DBD symptoms were presented in Figures 1 and 2. Discussion This study showed a significant relationship between maternal depressive and paternal cyclothymic affective temperament and conduct disorder, and between maternal anxious and irritable, and paternal cyclothymic affective temperament and oppositional defiant disorder in children with ADHD. This study highlights that children with more severe behavioural symptoms are more likely to have a parent with certain temperament traits. Download : Download full-size image Download : Download full-size image

English

The aim of this study is to investigate if perceived parenting styles have any influence on irrational belief in romantic relations among university students. To determine the students’ irrational belief in romantic relations “Belief Inventory in Relations” by Kalkan and to determine their perception for parenting styles “Scale of Parent Dependence” by Tosun and Sumer are used. The study is applied on a randomly selected sample of 266 students studying at Ondokuz MayA±s University. The students’ average age is 22.01; 193 of them are females and 73 are males. T-test and Pearson correlation are used to analyze the data. It has been determined that irrational beliefs in romantic relations and perceived parenting styles do not vary in terms of gender. Moreover, whilst a negative-oriented relationship between belief and mother concern, father concern, father autonomy is observed in romantic relations, no meaningful relation is found between lower dimensions of mothers’ overprotection, mother autonomy and fathers’ overprotection. Key words: Word, irrational belief in romantic relations, romantic relation, commitment to parents, parentage styles Heading 1: use this style for level one headings.

Parenting dimensions in mothers and fathers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Rearing a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a unique challenge for both parents. Previous studies addressed how mothers are affected by the challenges of raising a child with ASD, mostly in terms of stress pattern. In this study, we focused on comparisons between mothers and fathers of children with ASD in parental stress, attitude and mental health. We examined 99 parents of children with ASD using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Parental Style Questionnaire, the Self-Perceptions of the Parental Role and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The results revealed the gender differences in the parental attitude and mental health. Mothers reported that they engaged in more social behaviors with their children than fathers. In addition mothers reported higher level of depression than fathers. No difference among parents emerged in the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form. The results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that parenting distress is associated with depression, balance of parents’ diverse roles in their life and dysfunctional interaction between parents and children. These findings highlight both similarities and differences between mothers and fathers of children with ASD and the existence of a relationship between parental stress, mental health and attitude. Results suggest the importance of developing specific intervention programs which incorporate these fundamental parenting domains.

RELATION BETWEEN MOTHER – INFANT INTERACTIONS AND MOTHERS‘ PERSONALITY TRAITS

Background. A lot of studies emphasize the importance of early mother – infant relationships for further infant development, successful psychological and social functioning (Degnan, Henderson, Fox, Rubin, 2008). There are described many factors which explain quality of this relationship. However, there are not enough studies, that investigate relations between mothers‘ personality traits, which are most stable construct describing personality, and mother – infant interactions. Aim of this study is to identify relations between variuos aspects of mother – infant interactions during play situation and mothers‘ personality traits. Materials and methods . Participants were 26 mothers and their one and a half year old infants. Mothers‘ personality traits were evaluated by NEO Five Factor Inventory (Costa, McCrae, 1999). Videotaped observation of mother – infant free play and structured joint task was used for exploration of mother – infant interactions. Four major dimensions of mother – infant interactions were analysed: (1) mother‘s attention – directing strategies (Tomasello, 1992); (2) mother‘s cooperation (Ainsworth, 1969); (3) maternal feedback (Lewis, 1993); (4) mothers‘ emotional tone. Results. Several associations between mothers‘ personality and dimensions of mother – infant interactions were found: mothers‘ neuroticism was positively related to attention following strategy during free play and positive feedback during structured task. Mothers‘ extraversion was positively related to infant‘s attention switching strategy during free play. Higher extraversion was also related to less joyful and more irritable emotional tone during structured task. Mothers‘ conscientiousness was negatively linked to mothers‘ verbal cooperation and positive feedback during structured task. Mothers‘ openness to experience was negatively related to mothers‘ verbal interference during structured task and positively related to mothers‘ joyful emotional tone during free play. The findings of this study allow to confirm assumptions that mothers‘ individual personality traits are related to mother – infant interactions.

The Role of Parent Psychopathology in the Development of Preschool Children with Behavior Problems

The present study examined associations between early parental self-reported psychopathology symptoms and the later behavioral, emotional, and social functioning of preschool children with behavior problems. Mothers and fathers of preschoolers with behavior problems (N = 132; 55 girls, 77 boys) completed parent psychopathology questionnaires when children were 3 years old and completed measures of children's externalizing, internalizing, and social problems annually from age 3 to age 6. The sample included 61% European American, 16% Latino (predominantly Puerto Rican), 10% African American, and 13% multiethnic children. Every dimension of mothers’ and fathers’ psychopathology symptoms when children were 3 years old was associated with their own reports of children's externalizing and internalizing problems 3 years later. Several dimensions of maternal psychopathology symptoms at age 3 were associated with mother-reported social skills 3 years later. However, the relation between many dimensions of psychopathology symptoms and child outcome appears to be accounted for by co-occurring psychopathology symptoms. Only maternal attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Cluster A symptoms, and paternal ADHD and depression/anxiety symptoms emerged as unique predictors of child functioning. These findings suggest that most types of mothers’ and fathers’ self-reported psychopathology symptoms may play a role in the prognosis of behavioral, social, and emotional outcomes of preschoolers with behavior problems, but that co-occurring symptoms need to be considered.

Associations between maternal experiences of racism and early child health and development: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that experienced racism might help explain observed ethnic inequalities in early child health and development. There are few studies outside the US context and none that consider...

Employment Patterns of Less-Skilled Workers: Links to Children’s Behavior and Academic Progress

Using data from five waves of the Women's Employment Survey (WES; 1997-2003), we examine the links between low-income mothers' employment patterns and the emotional behavior and academic progress of their children. We find robust and substantively important linkages between several different dimensions of mothers' employment experiences and child outcomes. The pattern of results is similar across empirical approaches-including ordinary least squares and child fixed-effect models, with and without an extensive set of controls. Children exhibit fewer behavior problems when mothers work and experience job stability (relative to children whose mothers do not work). In contrast, maternal work accompanied by job instability is associated with significantly higher child behavior problems (relative to employment in a stable job). Children whose mothers work full-time and/or have fluctuating work schedules also exhibit significantly higher levels of behavior problems. However, full-time work has negative consequences for children only when it is in jobs that do not require cognitive skills. Such negative consequences are completely offset when this work experience is in jobs that require the cognitive skills that lead to higher wage growth prospects. Finally, fluctuating work schedules and full-time work in non-cognitively demanding jobs are each strongly associated with the probability that the child will repeat a grade or be placed in special education.