Maternal Beliefs Research Articles

The influence of child temperament, maternal core beliefs, maternal self-esteem and maternal psychopathologic symptoms on the development of fussy eating

The influence of child temperament, maternal core beliefs, maternal self-esteem and maternal psychopathologic symptoms on the development of fussy eating

Describing objectively measured physical activity levels, patterns, and correlates in a cross sectional sample of infants and toddlers from South Africa

BackgroundPhysical activity is considered to have health benefits across the lifespan but levels, patterns, and correlates have not been well described in infants and toddlers under the age of two years.MethodsThis study aimed to describe objectively and subjectively measured physical activity in a group of South African infants aged 3- to 24-months (n = 140), and to investigate individual and maternal correlates of physical activity in this sample. Infants’ physical activity was measured using an Axivity AX3 wrist-worn accelerometer for one week and the mean vector magnitude was calculated. In addition, mothers reported the average amount of time their infant spent in various types of activities (including in front of the TV), their beliefs about infants’ physical activity, access to equipment in the home environment, and ages of motor development milestone attainment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pair-wise correlations were used to test age and sex differences and associations with potential correlates.ResultsThere were significant age and sex effects on the distribution of time spent at different physical activity intensities (Wilks’ lambda = 0.06, p < 0.01). In all cases, the trend was for boys to spend more time in higher intensity physical activity and less time in lower intensity activity than girls; and for time spent in higher intensity activities to be higher in older children. Time spent outside was higher in boys, and this reached significance at 18-months (F = 3.84, p = 0.02). Less concern around floor play was associated with higher physical activity at 12-months in females only (p = 0.03, r = 0.54), and no other maternal beliefs were correlated with physical activity. The majority (94%) of children were exceeding TV time recommendations. When controlling for age and sex, overall TV time was positively associated with BMI z-score (β=0.01, p = 0.05).ConclusionThis study is the first to show sex and age differences in the patterns of physical activity, and to report on objectively measured and maternal reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the first two years of life in South Africa infants. Infants and toddlers should be provided with as many opportunities to be active through play as possible, and TV time should be limited.

Timing and adequate attendance of antenatal care visits among women in Ethiopia.

IntroductionAlthough ANC services are increasingly available to women in low and middle-income countries, their inadequate use persists. This suggests a misalignment between aims of the services and maternal beliefs and circumstances. Owing to the dearth of studies examining the timing and adequacy of content of care, this current study aims to investigate the timing and frequency of ANC visits in Ethiopia.MethodsData was obtained from the nationally representative 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) which used a two-stage cluster sampling design to provide estimates for the health and demographic variables of interest for the country. Our study focused on a sample of 10,896 women with history of at least one childbirth event. Percentages of timing and adequacy of ANC visits were conducted across the levels of selected factors. Variables which were associated at 5% significance level were examined in the multivariable logistic regression model for association between timing and frequency of ANC visits and the explanatory variables while controlling for covariates. Furthermore, we presented the approach to estimate marginal effects involving covariate-adjusted logistic regression with corresponding 95%CI of delayed initiation of ANC visits and inadequate ANC attendance. The method used involved predicted probabilities added up to a weighted average showing the covariate distribution in the population.ResultsResults indicate that 66.3% of women did not use ANC at first trimester and 22.3% had ANC less than 4 visits. The results of this study were unique in that the association between delayed ANC visits and adequacy of ANC visits were examined using multivariable logistic model and the marginal effects using predicted probabilities. Results revealed that older age interval has higher odds of inadequate ANC visits. More so, type of place of residence was associated with delayed initiation of ANC visits, with rural women having the higher odds of delayed initiation of ANC visits (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.26–2.18). However, rural women had 44% reduction in the odds of having inadequate ANC visits. In addition, multi-parity showed higher odds of delayed initiation of ANC visit when compared to the primigravida (OR = 2.20; 95%CI: 1.07–2.69). On the contrary, there was 36% reduction in the odds of multigravida having inadequate ANC visits when compared to the women who were primigravida. There were higher odds of inadequacy in ANC visits among women who engaged in sales/business, agriculture, skilled manual and other jobs when compared to women who currently do not work, after adjusting for covariates. From the predictive margins, assuming the distribution of all covariates remained the same among respondents, but everyone was aged 15–19 years, we would expect 71.8% delayed initiation of ANC visit. If everyone was aged 20-24years, 73.4%; 25-29years, 66.5%; 30-34years, 64.8%; 35-39years, 65.6%; 40-44years, 59.6% and 45-49years, we would expect 70.1% delayed initiation of ANC visit. If instead the distribution of age was as observed and for other covariates remained the same among respondents, but no respondent lived in the rural, we would expect about 61.4% delayed initiation of ANC visit; if however, everyone lived in the rural, and we would expect 71.6% delayed initiation in ANC visit. Model III revealed the predictive margins of all factors examined for delayed initiation for ANC visits, while Model IV presented the predictive marginal effects of the determinants of adequacy of ANC visits.ConclusionThe precise mechanism by which these factors affect ANC visits remain blurred at best. There may be factors on the demand side like the women’s empowerment, financial support of the husband, knowledge of ANC visits in the context of timing, frequency and the expectations of ANC visits might be mediating the effects through the factors found associated in this study. Supply side factors like the quality of ANC services, skilled staff, and geographic location of the health centers also mediate their effects through the highlighted factors. Irrespective of the knowledge about the precise mechanism of action, policy makers could focus on improving women’s empowerment, improving women’s education, reducing wealth inequity and facilitating improved utilization of ANC through modifications on the supply side factors such as geographic location and focus on hard to reach women.

Maternal beliefs about television and parental mediation in a low-income United States sample

Low-income children are at greater risk for excess screen time and negative correlates associated with screen media use. The goal of this study is to increase our understanding of low-income mothers’ beliefs and practices around their children’s television (TV) use (parental mediation). We administered semi-structured interviews to 296 low-income mothers of children ages four–eight years old in the United States. Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) mothers are confident in restriction of TV content; (2) time limits are not as important as TV content and are only necessary in extreme situations; (3) mothers make meaning of child learning from TV content; (4) mothers identified individual differences in child TV overuse; and (5) mothers’ policy on TV during mealtime depends on how they believe TV to affect child mealtime behaviors and mothers’ mealtime goals. We discuss the implications of these themes for promoting parental mediation in low-income families.

Mothers\u2019 perceptions of their own diets and the diets of their children at 2\u20133\xa0years of age

This is a cross-sectional analysis of a follow-up study to examine the perceptions of mothers treated at public health centers, regarding their own diets and the diets of their children aged 2–3. Among the 464 participants, 57% (n = 267) reported perceiving their own diets as unhealthy while 72% (n = 334) perceiving their children’s diets as healthy. The mothers’ perceptions of their own diets as healthy were associated with less maternal schooling and having received health care from professionals who had received special training (p < 0.05). The mothers’ perceptions of their children’s diets as healthy were associated with more maternal schooling (p < 0.05). This difference between the mothers’ perceptions of their own diets and those of their children reinforce the importance of considering maternal beliefs and attitudes in infant nutritional intervention programs.

Maternal beliefs in children’s bilingualism: A case study on Korean mothers in the United States

This study examined maternal beliefs in children`s bilingualism. Five Korean mothers who were raising young bilingual children in the United States were interviewed. The findings in this study showed that the Korean mothers believed in children`s bilingualism had positive values. They perceived Korean- English bilingualism as a positive influence on children`s well-being, children`s emotional makeup with their family, and children`s educational development. They played a critical role in teaching Korean in various ways based on their positive beliefs. However, they worked individually on their children`s bilingual education and had difficulty in receiving support from the school or the community. They needed support from the school system to maintain their beliefs. The results of the study suggested that American mainstream schools should work together with parents from minority groups and foster a supportive environment for Korean-English bilingual children.

A Social Media Peer Group for Mothers To Prevent Obesity from Infancy: The Grow2Gether Randomized Trial.

Few studies have addressed obesity prevention among low-income families whose infants are at increased obesity risk. We tested a Facebook peer-group intervention for low-income mothers to foster behaviors promoting healthy infant growth. In this randomized controlled trial, 87 pregnant women (Medicaid insured, BMI ≥25 kg/m2) were randomized to the Grow2Gether intervention or text message appointment reminders. Grow2Gether participants joined a private Facebook group of 9-13 women from 2 months before delivery until infant age 9 months. A psychologist facilitated groups featuring a curriculum of weekly videos addressing feeding, sleep, parenting, and maternal well-being. Feasibility was assessed using the frequency and content of participation, and acceptability using surveys. Maternal beliefs and behaviors and infant growth were assessed at birth, 2, 4, 6, and 9 months. Differences in infant growth between study arms were explored. We conducted intention-to-treat analyses using quasi-least-squares regression. Eighty-eight percent (75/85) of intervention participants (42% (36/85) food insecure, 88% (75/85) black) reported the group was helpful. Participants posted 30 times/group/week on average. At 9 months, the intervention group had significant improvement in feeding behaviors (Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire) compared to the control group (p = 0.01, effect size = 0.45). Intervention group mothers were significantly less likely to pressure infants to finish food and, at age 6 months, give cereal in the bottle. Differences were not observed for other outcomes, including maternal feeding beliefs or infant weight-for-length. A social media peer-group intervention was engaging and significantly impacted certain feeding behaviors in families with infants at high risk of obesity.

Do Mother’s Metacognitions, Beliefs, and Behaviors Predict Child Anxiety-Related Metacognitions?

Recent research suggests that adults and children with anxiety disorders have a particular set of metacognitive beliefs and strategies. Knowing whether parents’ metacognitions, beliefs and behaviors are associated with their children’s metacognitions is important for understanding how anxiety-related metacognitions and clinical anxiety develop. We hypothesized that there are positive relationships between mother and corresponding child anxiety-related metacognitions even after controlling for maternal depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. We also hypothesized that maternal beliefs about child anxiety and maternal controlling behavior would be positively related to child metacognitions and would account for any associations between mother and child metacognitions. The study employed a cross-sectional design in a community sample of 7–12 year old children and their mothers. Mothers and children completed questionnaires to assess anxiety-related metacognitions and an interaction task to assess mothers’ overinvolvement. Mothers also completed questionnaires regarding their beliefs about child anxiety and controlling rearing behavior. We examined correlations between variables before investigating which maternal variables made unique contributions to the variation in children’s metacognitions in a series of multiple regressions and mediation analyses. Mothers’ positive worry beliefs and cognitive confidence contributed a modest amount of unique variance in the corresponding beliefs in children. Mothers’ and children’s metacognitions were positively associated. The unique contributions of mothers’ anxiety-related metacognitions on children’s anxiety-related metacognitions found in our study indicate that a metacognitive-parental intervention for preventing and treating child anxiety is worth investigation. Our findings place anxious metacognitions in a developmental context.

Risk factors for obesity in preschool-aged children in China.

To examine the relationship between child, mother, and environmental factors and increased body mass index in preschool-aged children in China. There are about 120 million children in China are classified as overweight or obese. Understanding the key factors associated with childhood obesity (i.e. child, mother and environment) is the first step in combating the growing obesity epidemic in China, as well as in the global community, where large numbers of Chinese immigrants can be found. A cross-sectional design was used. Each child's weight and height were measured by trained assistants, whereas mothers were asked to complete several questionnaires including family demographic, family eating and activity habit and child feeding practices. Mothers also reported their own as well as the father's height, weight and waist circumference. Linear regression models were used. The overweight and obesity prevalence was 22% for children, 7% for mothers and 82% for fathers. Children spent an average of 1.2h (72min) engaged in physical activities and 0.76h (46min) in sedentary time including TV watching or computer and video games playing per day. Factors associated with a child's higher body mass index included maternal beliefs regarding the child's susceptibility to obesity, their own susceptibility to obesity, a child's more advanced age and more unhealthy food stimulus exposure at home. Because a mother's health behaviours may influence their child's health behaviours and they are a crucial model for the family and children, childhood obesity prevention needs to include mothers and focus on building a healthy home environment for the family. Understanding factors associated with childhood obesity can assist researchers and clinicians to develop culturally sensitive and evidence-based programmes and policy to reduce this global epidemic.

Pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire: Psychometric properties.

Introduction:The rate of caesarean delivery is increasing worldwide. Maternal beliefs may be influential on the mode of delivery. This study aimed to validate pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire among pregnant women.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study which was done in Ahvaz Public and Private Health Care Centers. A total of 342 low-risk pregnant women were included in a study conducted in spring 2011 in Ahvaz, Iran. After careful consideration and performing content and face validity, a 62-item measure was developed and subjects completed the questionnaire. Reliability was estimated using internal consistency and validity was assessed by performing face, content and structure and discriminate validity. Data were analyzed using explanatory factor analysis, t-test, and correlations in SPSS 16.Results:The findings of content and face validity showed almost perfect results for both content validity ratio = 1 and content validity index = 1. The explanatory factor analysis indicated a 7-subscale measure (Eigenvalue >1, factor loading >0.4), and discriminate validity revealed satisfying results P < 0.05 for 6 out of 7 subscales. Internal consistency as measured by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was acceptable for subscales.Conclusions:In general, the findings suggest that this newly generated scale is a reliable and valid specific questionnaire for assessing pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery. However, further studies are needed to establish stronger psychometric properties for the questionnaire.

The Relationships of Health Behaviour and Psychological Characteristics with Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Nulliparous Women

Objectives Preterm birth is the leading pregnancy outcome associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality and remains difficult to prevent. There is evidence that some modifiable maternal health characteristics may influence the risk of preterm birth. Our aim was to investigate the relationships of self-reported maternal health behaviour and psychological characteristics in nulliparous women with spontaneous preterm birth in prenatal primary care. Methods The data of our prospective study was obtained from the nationwide DELIVER multicentre cohort study (September 2009–March 2011), which was designed to examine perinatal primary care in the Netherlands. In our study, consisting of 2768 nulliparous women, we estimated the relationships of various self-reported health behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, folic acid supplementation, daily fruit, daily fresh vegetables, daily hot meal and daily breakfast consumption) and psychological characteristics (anxious/depressed mood and health control beliefs) with spontaneous preterm birth as a dichotomous outcome. Due to the clustering of clients within midwife practices, Generalized Estimating Equations was used for these analyses. Results Low health control beliefs was the sole characteristic significantly associated with spontaneous preterm birth (odds ratio 2.26; 95 % confidence interval 1.51, 3.39) after being adjusted for socio-demographics, anthropometrics and the remaining health behaviour and psychological characteristics. The other characteristics were not significantly associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Conclusions for Practice Maternal low health control beliefs need to be explored further as a possible marker for women at risk for preterm birth, and as a potentially modifiable characteristic to be used in interventions which are designed to reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

Health Messaging and African-American Infant Sleep Location: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT01361880.

Is the ideal mother a sensitive mother? Beliefs about early childhood parenting in mothers across the globe

In this article, we test the hypothesis that beliefs about the ideal mother are convergent across cultures and that these beliefs overlap considerably with attachment theory’s notion of the sensitive mother. In a sample including 26 cultural groups from 15 countries around the globe, 751 mothers sorted the Maternal Behavior Q-Set to reflect their ideas about the ideal mother. The results show strong convergence between maternal beliefs about the ideal mother and attachment theory’s description of the sensitive mother across groups. Cultural group membership significantly predicted variations in maternal sensitivity belief scores, but this effect was substantially accounted for by group variations in socio-demographic factors. Mothers living in rural versus urban areas, with a low family income, and with more children, were less likely to describe the ideal mother as highly sensitive. Cultural group membership did remain a significant predictor of variations in maternal sensitivity belief scores above and beyond socio-demographic predictors. The findings are discussed in terms of the universal and culture-specific aspects of the sensitivity construct.

Factors Predicting Central Details in Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Victims’ Disclosure

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to explore the predictive value of child sexual abuse characteristics (relationship between the child and the suspect, reported coercion, type and frequency of abuse) as well as the disclosure context (disclosure made on purpose or accidentally, maternal belief, and protective actions) on the number of central forensically relevant (CFR) details elicited during the investigative interview of alleged child victims. The effects of the child’s age and use of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Protocol were controlled for, in order to focus on the aspects of the sexual abuse and disclosure variables. Of the 116 investigative interviews conducted with children aged from 4 to 14 years old, half followed the NICHD Protocol; the other half were conducted by the same 18 interviewers prior to their training in the NICHD protocol. Police files and interview transcripts were analyzed to collect information about the child sexual abuse characteristics, the disclosure context, and the number of CFR details. As expected, the child’s age and use of the NICHD Protocol were the two strongest predictors of the number of CFR details. Coercion (physical and verbal) as well as maternal protection following the disclosure also increased the number of CFR details. Explanations of these results and implications for further research are discussed.

The Evolution of Mothers' Beliefs About Overweight and Obesity in Their Early School-Age Children

ObjectiveTo identify changes in maternal beliefs, concerns, and perspectives about overweight and obesity in their children over a 2-year period. MethodsA total of 37 low-income English-speaking mothers of overweight or obese children participated in 2 semistructured interviews, separated by about 2 years. Mean child age was 5.9 years at baseline and 8.2 years at follow-up. Mother and child anthropometric data were obtained, and mothers completed demographic questionnaires at both time points. Mothers' interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method for longitudinal patterns of change in their perspectives on childhood obesity across the 2 time points. ResultsSix longitudinal patterns of change in mothers' perspectives and beliefs were identified: 1) mothers' identification of a weight problem in their child emerges gradually, 2) mothers' level of concern about their child overeating increases, 3) mothers' concerns about consequences of obesity intensify and change over time, 4) mothers feel less control over their child's eating and weight, 5) mothers' efforts to manage eating and weight become more intentional, and 6) mothers are more likely to initiate conversations about weight as their child gets older. ConclusionsMothers' concerns about children's weight and eating habits increased, and reported weight management strategies became more intentional over a 2-year period. Further research should consider attending to maternal perspectives on child weight and eating and their evolution in the development of family-based interventions for childhood obesity.

A Comparison Between Homeschooled and Formally Schooled Kindergartners: Children's Early Literacy, Mothers’ Beliefs, and Writing Mediation

The study characterized children's literacy, mothers’ beliefs, and writing mediation of homeschooled compared to formally schooled kindergartners. Participants were 60 children (ages 4–6) and their mothers (30 in homeschooling). At the children's home, we assessed children's literacy, maternal beliefs, and video-recorded mother–child joint writing of a birthday invitation. Results showed that homeschooled children had lower literacy levels than those formally schooled. Homeschooling mothers reported lower levels of belief in learning activities and demands from their children and showed lower levels of writing mediation. Maternal writing mediation predicted children's writing, beyond the child's phonological awareness and schooling (home vs. formal).

Examining maternal beliefs and human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among male and female children in low-income families

PurposeThis study examines within-family differences in the uptake of the HPV vaccine and HPV-related beliefs by children׳s sex. MethodsFrom a 2011–2013 survey of mothers of children aged 9–17 years in Texas, mothers with both male and female children (n=350) were selected. ResultsMothers were more likely to report having initiated and completed HPV vaccination for their daughters than sons. Mothers did not express differences by children׳s sex in HPV-related beliefs. Among those who had not completely vaccinated either child, mothers were more likely to report they wanted their daughters compared to sons vaccinated and were more likely to report feeling confident they could get their daughters vaccinated than their sons. ConclusionIn this population, mothers were more likely to report HPV vaccination of and motivation to vaccinate daughters compared to sons, although maternal beliefs about HPV did not differ by children׳s sex.

Feeding Style and a Child's Body Mass Index

IntroductionEarly onset pediatric obesity has become a major health concern in the United States. A key contributing factor to early onset childhood is socialization to the eating and mealtime environment. Maternal feeding styles play an integral role in how children are socialized to the eating and mealtime environment. MethodThe study utilized a descriptive correlational research design. The sample was 126 mother/child dyads recruited from a southeastern Michigan Head Start program. Each mother completed a research packet. ResultsResults indicated that maternal beliefs such as nutritional belief and belief about the child's eating style were significantly associated with maternal feeding style. Maternal behaviors were associated with maternal feeding styles. DiscussionOverall, the study provides a description of maternal beliefs and behaviors related to the body weight status of a preschool-aged child.

Maternal Beliefs, Adolescent Perceived Maternal Control and Psychological Competence in Poor Chinese Female-Headed Divorced Families

Based on the data of 337 female-headed divorced families living in poverty in Hong Kong, the relationships among maternal beliefs (Chinese cultural beliefs of familism, maternal expectations of children’s future, maternal attribute of children’s achievement to effort), adolescents’ perceived maternal control and adolescent psychological competence (indexed by beliefs in the future, clear and positive identity, and resilience) were examined. Results indicated that adolescents’ perceived maternal control mediated the influence between maternal beliefs and adolescent psychological competence in poor female-headed divorced families in Hong Kong. With the paucity of research on family beliefs and indigenous parenting practice, the present study underscores the importance of maternal beliefs and maternal control on nurturing adolescent psychological competence in Chinese divorced families facing adversity, which contributes to the development of Chinese familial model of resilience. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Factors Associated with Early Weaning

Objective: To identify the factors that influenced early weaning and its incidence among children from six months old in five public hospitals of two states - Minas Gerais and Bahia, Brazil. Material and Methods: The sample (N = 104) was of convenience type composed of mothers of six-month-old infants from five public hospitals. Mothers answered a personal interview by phone when the child was six months old. Data analysis was performed by the association between the dependent variable, early weaning, and independents variables, maternal age, mother's marital status, education and job, family income, maternal belief about the amount of milk produced to be or not enough to feed her baby and breastfeeding interruption reason, through the chi-square test in SPSS software version 17.0 (p<0.05). Results: Among the relationships found, only maternal belief in milk failure was significantly associated with early weaning (p <0.001). Most mothers who did not perform early weaning believed they had satisfactory amount of milk (66.7%). The general weaning rate was ≅ 30%. Conclusion: Early weaning was related to maternal belief that the amount of milk was insufficient to meet the needs of the newborn and its incidence was high in the study population.