Mother-child Relationship Quality Research Articles

Maternal dispositional mindfulness and mother-child relationship: The mediating role of emotional control during parenting.

The literature supports the role of parental dispositional mindfulness on parent-child relationship quality. However, little is known about the connection between these two aspects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether emotion regulation during parenting, that is, the ability to control negative emotions, mediated the association between parental dispositional mindfulness and parent-child relationship quality. The study also explored the moderation role of child age on the association between parental dispositional mindfulness and parent's ability to control negative emotions during parenting. Participants were 635 mothers of children aged between 12 months and 5 years. Mothers completed self-report questionnaires to measure maternal dispositional mindfulness, mother-child relationship quality and maternal control of negative emotions during parenting. Results showed that maternal ability to control negative emotions during parenting partially mediated the association between maternal dispositional mindfulness and mother-child relationship quality. Moreover, the moderation role of child age indicated that the association between maternal dispositional mindfulness and maternal ability to control negative emotions during parenting was stronger for older children's mothers. Dispositional mindfulness has a protective role for the quality of parenting and the mother-child relationship. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Evaluation of sleep problems and related factors in children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine sleep problems in newly diagnosed children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compared these problems with typically developing (TD) children in early childhood period. We also evaluated the factors that may be related to sleep problems in ASD group. Methods Forty-eight children with ASD and 46 TD children, and their parents were enrolled in the study. The severity of autistic symptoms and mother–child relationship of children with ASD, and developmental level of all children were assessed. The parents completed questionnaires related to their children’s sleep, behavioral problems, and their own psychiatric symptoms. Results ASD group did not differ from controls in terms of sleep problems. Sleep problems were associated with behavioral problems (p < 0.001), developmental level (p < 0.05), autism severity (p < 0.01), maternal psychopathology (p < 0.01) and mother–child relationship quality (p < 0.05) in ASD group. However, behavioral problems had the strongest association with sleep problems. Conclusions The similarity in sleep problems between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children during early childhood highlights the clinical importance of recognizing and addressing these challenges early on. Particularly, given the strong association with behavioral problems in children with ASD, clinicians should prioritize comprehensive assessments and interventions targeting behavioral aspects to improve sleep outcomes. This study calls for further research into the developmental trajectory of sleep problems in ASD children, contributing valuable insights to the broader literature on effective clinical approaches for this population in their management.

Maternal cognitive functioning and psychopathology predict quality of parent-child relationship in the context of substance use disorder: A 15-month longitudinal study.

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the role of maternal cognitive functioning and psychopathology in parent-child relationship quality during residential treatment for mothers with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), in order to identify factors that may enhance or limit intervention effects.We assessed cognitive functioning (Esame Neuropsicologico Breve-2 [ENB-2]) and psychopathology (Symptom Checklist-90 Revised [SCL-90-R]) in 60 mothers diagnosed with SUD (Mage = 30.13 yrs; SD = 6.79) at treatment admission. Parent-child relationship quality was measured during free-play interactions using the Emotional Availability Scales every three months from admission (Child Mage = 17.17m; SD = 23.60) to the 15th month of the residential treatment.A main effect of maternal psychopathology and an interaction effect of time and cognitive functioning were found. More maternal psychopathology predicted lower mother-child relationship quality. Mothers with higher cognitive functioning presented a better treatment trajectory, with an increase in mother-child relationship quality, whereas mothers with lower cognitive functioning showed a decrease in relationship quality after initial improvement.These findings suggest that maternal psychopathology and cognitive functioning may influence the treatment of parent-child relationships in the context of SUD, although causality is not yet established. Implications for assessment and intervention are discussed.

A comparative effectiveness study of the Breaking the Cycle and Maxxine Wright intervention programs for substance-involved mothers and their children: study protocol

BackgroundChildren of substance-involved mothers are at especially high risk for exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor mental health and development. Early interventions that support mothers, children, and the mother-child relationship have the greatest potential to reduce exposure to early adversity and the mental health problems associated with these exposures. Currently, there is a lack of evidence from the real-world setting demonstrating effectiveness and return on investment for intervention programs that focus on the mother-child relationship in children of substance-involved mothers.MethodsOne hundred substance-involved pregnant and/or parenting women with children between the ages of 0–6 years old will be recruited through the Breaking the Cycle and Maxxine Wright intervention programs, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, respectively. Children’s socioemotional development and exposure to risk and protective factors, mothers’ mental health and history of ACEs, and mother-child relationship quality will be assessed in both intervention programs. Assessments will occur at three time points: pre-intervention, 12-, and 24-months after engagement in the intervention program.DiscussionThere is a pressing need to identify interventions that promote the mental health of infants and young children exposed to early adversity. Bringing together an inter-disciplinary research team and community partners, this study aligns with national strategies to establish strong evidence for infant mental health interventions that reduce child exposure to ACEs and support the mother-child relationship. This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05768815) on March 14, 2023.

Changes in coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior across COVID-19 and the moderating role of parent-child attachment relationship quality.

Research indicates increases in coercive parenting towards children and increases in child externalizing behavior during COVID-19 as compared to the pre-pandemic period. In this preregistered study, we extended previous knowledge by investigating to what extent, and under what conditions, changes in coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior are interrelated. Ninety-five mothers and fathers of children (of age 3 prior to the pandemic) reported on coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior before and during the pandemic, and trained assistants observed the quality of mother-child and father-child attachment relationship prior to the pandemic. We employed latent change score modeling to test the extent to which changes in maternal and paternal coercive parenting and changes in child externalizing behavior across the pre-pandemic period and the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown are interrelated. Moreover, we tested whether these linkages are moderated by changes in the other parent's coercive parenting and the quality of parent-child attachment relationship. Specifically, we tested the moderation by mother-child (father-child) attachment relationship quality in the relation between changes in mothers' (fathers') coercive parenting and changes in child externalizing behavior. We found that changes in mothers', but not fathers' coercive parenting were positively associated with changes in child externalizing behavior. We found no moderation by changes in the other parent's parenting or by parent-child attachment relationship quality. Our findings provide support for the transactional processes underlying mothers' and children's behavior in the context of non-normative stressful conditions. We recommend incorporating evidence-based (parenting) support for mothers, fathers, and young children in prevention strategies and recovery tools employed during and after future lockdowns and non-normative stressful events.

A longitudinal study of families formed through third-party assisted reproduction: Mother-child relationships and child adjustment from infancy to adulthood.

The seventh phase of this longitudinal study investigated whether children born through third-party assisted reproduction experienced psychological problems, or difficulties in their relationship with their mothers, in early adulthood. The impact of disclosure of their biological origins, and quality of mother-child relationships from age 3 onward, were also examined. Sixty-five assisted reproduction families, including 22 surrogacy families, 17 egg donation families, and 26 sperm donation families, were compared with 52 unassisted conception families when the children were aged 20. Less than half of the mothers had completed tertiary education and less than 5% were from ethnic minority backgrounds. Standardized interviews and questionnaires were administered to mothers and young adults. There were no differences between assisted reproduction and unassisted conception families in mothers' or young adults' psychological well-being, or the quality of family relationships. However, within the gamete donation families, egg donation mothers reported less positive family relationships than sperm donation mothers, and young adults conceived by sperm donation reported poorer family communication than those conceived by egg donation. Young adults who learned about their biological origins before age 7 had less negative relationships with their mothers, and their mothers showed lower levels of anxiety and depression. Associations between parenting and child adjustment did not differ between assisted and unassisted reproduction families from ages 3 to 20. The findings suggest that the absence of a biological connection between children and their parents in assisted reproduction families does not interfere with the development of positive mother-child relationships or psychological adjustment in adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Child Temperament and Child-care Support are Related to Better Mother-child Relationship Quality

The current study identifies associates of mother-first-born-child relationship quality of an important period that is when expecting a second child. Based on Belsky’s determinants of parenting model (Belsky, 1984), we suggested three domains to relate to mother-child relationship quality, maternal personal resources (well-being, effortful control), child characteristics (temperament, behaviour problems) and contextual factors (household chaos, child-care support, marital satisfaction). Forty-five mothers (Mage= 34.78 years; SDage = 3.86 years) and their typically developing first-born children (Mchild age=32.26 months; SDage = 6.27) were visited at home in the south of England, Sussex, UK, where mothers completed questionnaires and mother-child interactions were videotaped. Results demonstrated that easier child temperament, better maternal well-being, less household chaos and more child-care support were related to more positive mother-child relationship quality. Together the variables explained 23% of the variance in relationship quality.  The child’s easy temperament, chaos and child-care support provided unique variance in explaining the mother-child relationship. These results contribute to the literature on expecting a second child and yield several implications. The findings also provide guidance for future intervention programs. In order to improve the mother-child relationship quality, child executive functioning may be a fruitful target for intervention, as well as increased support for child-care and decreased household chaos.  

Association of parent-child relationship quality and problematic mobile phone use with non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury behavior (NSSI) is a common mental health threat among adolescents. Poor parent-child relationship (PCR) and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) are risk factors for NSSI. We aimed to explore the impact of PCR quality, PMPU, and their interaction effects on NSSI among adolescents in China, as well as the sex difference.MethodA survey was conducted among school students in 4 provinces in China between 2017 and 2018. The study included 14,500 valid participants. The students’ general demographic characteristics was collected, and further data on PCR quality, PMPU, and NSSI were obtained through self-rated questionnaire. Chi-square test, binomial logistic regression models, and the Andersson Excel were used for data analysis.ResultsThe 12-month prevalence of NSSI was 27.3%. Lower PCR quality and PMPU were significantly associated with NSSI, respectively. The low PCR + yes PMPU group had the greatest association with NSSI, followed by the high PCR + yes PMPU group, low PCR + no PMPU group. Moreover, in low father-child relationship + yes PMPU group, females had a higher risk of NSSI than males; in high mother-child relationship + yes PMPU group, females had a higher risk of NSSI than males. Additive interaction analysis indicated that mother-child relationship quality and PMPU were associated with increased risks of NSSI, in the subgroup of males.ConclusionsThe findings underline the importance of simultaneously studying the quality of PCR and PMPU for a comprehensive understanding of NSSI behavior, and especially highlights the significance of maternal relationship quality.

MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

IntroductionMother-child relationship has a major role in a child’s cognitive, emotional and behavior shaping. Unfortunately, in the context of domestic violence, this relationship can be negatively impacted becoming strained or distant.ObjectivesTo assess the quality of Mother-Child Relationship in the context of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. And to investigate the factors influencing negatively the Mother-Child Relationship.MethodsThis is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, conducted among abused women and their children, recruited from associations combatting violence against women, from Moulay abdellah hospital of Salé, and from consultation at the university psychiatric hospital Arrazi of Salé, through a hetero-questionnaire that includes socio-demographic characteristics and scales measuring the quality of mother-child relationship (IPA, CAM) and psychological distress of the mother and the child (EMMDP).ResultsFrom the results observed in women and children recruited in our study, we retain that various elements are impacting the mother-child relationship, such as psychological maternal functioning, child’s behavior functioning, parenting qualities, insecurity of child’s attachment, unhealthy internalized representations…ConclusionsA better understanding of the factors influencing mother-child relationship, can allow us to offer more tailored supports and could enable interventions promoting recovery and women’s and children’s well-being in the context of domestic violence.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Mother-Child Relationship Quality from Preschool to Adolescence: Variation by Maternal Education.

Using longitudinal data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 1,088), we examine changes in maternal perception of closeness and conflict in the mother-child relationship from the child's preschool to adolescent years, with attention to variation by maternal education. Analyses using individual growth models show that mother-child closeness increases, while mother-child conflict decreases from preschool to first grade. From first grade to age 15, mother-child closeness decreases, while mother-child conflict increases, both gradually. The decrease in mother-child conflict from preschool to first grade and the increases in mother-child conflict from first to fifth grade, sixth grade, and age 15 are less steep for mothers with a college degree than for mothers without a college degree. These findings underscore the importance of examining changes in parent-child relationships using longitudinal data across children's developmental stages and their variations by parental social and economic status.

Preterm birth and expressive language development across the first 5 years of life: A nationally-representative longitudinal path analysis

Multiple factors including the child's non-linguistic characteristics and caregiving environment can affect language development. Since preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation) can negatively affect language development, this study used path analysis to investigate whether the influence of preterm birth on expressive language development at 3 and 5 years of age is mediated by a child's non-linguistic characteristics (temperament and cognitive, motor, and social-personal abilities), caregiving environment (maternal and paternal stress and depression, mother-child and father-child relationship quality), and interactions between these domains. These analyses were conducted using three waves of data (ages: 9 months, 3 years, 5 years) on 8,712 children (4,300 female; 535 preterm) from a nationally-representative longitudinal study in Ireland. Preterm birth was indirectly (but not directly) associated with expressive language at 3 years of age via cognitive and social-personal abilities (but not motor abilities, mother-child relationship quality, or father-child relationship quality) at 9 months. There was no direct or indirect effect of preterm birth on expressive language at 5 years of age. Preterm birth negatively affected mother-child and father-child relationship quality at 3 years via fussy-difficult temperament and mother's/father's stress (but not depression) at 9 months. These findings are discussed with reference to international standards for neonatal care, including the need for long-term developmental monitoring of children born preterm by multidisciplinary healthcare teams, alongside parental supports promoting mental health and confidence in caregiving tasks. Future study recommendations are made to expand the tested models in line with family systems perspectives.

Longitudinal Predictors of Mother- and Child-Report of Maternal Support Following Child Sexual Abuse.

Maternal support is theorized as a critical predictor of children's recovery from sexual abuse. However, following disclosure, several factors may cause maternal support to fluctuate over time. This study examined the effects of hypothesized risk factors, mother's relationship to the perpetrator and maternal psychological distress, as well as protective factors, maternal belief of disclosure, lower levels of child blame, and mother-child relationship quality, as predictors of change in maternal support over a 9month period. Mothers (Mage = 38.42, SD = 8.99) and their children (Mage = 11.57, SD = 2.69; 85% female), recruited from a child advocacy center following sexual abuse disclosure, completed measures of maternal support. Mothers reported on their relationship to the perpetrator, psychological distress, belief of disclosure, child blame, and mother-child relationship quality. On average, mother- and child-reports of maternal support were stable across time. Belief of disclosure and child blame predicted mother- and child-report of maternal support. Psychological distress and mother-child relationship quality predicted change in mother-report, but not child-report of maternal support. Researchers and clinicians should consider potential fluctuations in maternal support in assessment and intervention following child sexual abuse.

Developmental Cascade Effects of Maternal Depression on Offspring Substance Use Across Adolescence: Pathway Through Mother-Child Relationship Quality and Peer Deviancy.

There is evidence that maternal depression can disrupt adolescent social development and trigger a risk cascade to adolescent substance use that involves poor quality mother-child relationships (Lovejoy et al., 2000) and affiliation with deviant peers (Visser et al., 2012). However, relatively little work has considered maternal depression as a catalyst for this risk pathway to adolescent substance use. The current study aims to clarify whether maternal depression has cascading effects to adolescent substance use through related developmental systems. Using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping for testing indirect effects, we tested the prospective association between maternal depression and middle adolescent substance use and whether poor mother-child relationship quality and peer deviancy mediated this relationship. We controlled for a variety of important cofounding variables. The sample included N = 338 adolescents (57% female; predominantly non-Hispanic Caucasian (83.14%) or African American (8.88%)) and mothers drawn from a larger nine-year longitudinal study of adolescent substance use. Data from wave 1 through wave 6 of the longitudinal project were utilized. The average age of adolescents was 11.6, 12.6, 13.6, 14.6, 15.5, and 16.6 at W1-W6, respectively. The indirect effect from maternal depression to substance use was supported (ab = 0.03, 95% CI [0.002, 0.07]). Findings emphasize that future work should more closely examine how maternal depression operates in developmental cascade models of adolescent substance use.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Empathy Training on Empathy Skills, Life Satisfaction, and Relationship Quality for Chinese Adolescents and Their Mothers: A Mixed Methods Study

Using a pre- and post-test design, this study examined the changes in empathy skills, life satisfaction, and relationship quality among mainland Chinese adolescents (ages 13–15 years) and their mothers ( N = 108 dyads) following an empathy training intervention. Participants completed a 20-day empathy training, including two in-person group training sessions and daily journals on assigned topics. Participants’ mother-child relationship quality, mother-child conflict, life satisfaction, and empathy skills were measured three times, and selected participants were interviewed to explore their experience of the training. The research procedure followed protocols that were approved by an Institutional Review Board. ANOVAs were used to examine quantitative data and inductive analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings suggest that after the training, both adolescents and mothers reported significant benefits in mother-child relationship quality and life satisfaction. However, participants’ empathy skills (i.e., perspective taking and empathic concern skills) did not change. Possible mechanisms of the observed changes included the empathy skills (e.g., perspective taking skills) learned through the training and the reciprocal nature of positive changes within the mother-child dyad. The current study suggests that empathy training may benefit adolescents and their mothers, both within the relationship and in their general life satisfaction.

Revisiting the hypothesis that friends buffer against diminished self-esteem arising from poor quality parent-adolescent relationships: A replication study.

This replication study revisited conclusions from 2 previous investigations (Gauze, Bukowski, Aquan-Assee, & Sippola, 1996; van Aken & Asendorpf, 1997), which suggested that support from friends buffers against diminished self-esteem arising from poor quality relationships with mothers during the transition into adolescence. The aim of this replication study was to conduct an independent test of these findings with both concurrent and longitudinal data. Concurrent data for replication analyses were drawn from 4 projects, involving a total of 959 boys and 1,119 girls (ages 10 to 14) from Canada and the United States. Three samples reported participant ethnic descent: Africa (12.1%), Asia (5.6%), Europe (65.3%), Latin America (12.1%), and Native North America (0.9%). Child and mother reports of mother-child relationship quality assayed (a) maternal social support (in 3 data sets), and (b) family cohesion and adaptability (in 2 data sets). Main effects were replicated but hypothesized buffering effects were not. Maternal social support and friend social support were independently associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrently, but not longitudinally. Family cohesion (but not adaptability) was associated with adolescent self-esteem, concurrently and longitudinally. Friend social support did not moderate associations between mother-child relationship quality and adolescent self-esteem, concurrently or longitudinally. The findings are consistent with a cumulative effects model wherein friends uniquely contribute to adolescent self-worth, over and above the contribution of mothers. The findings do not support claims that friends moderate associations between mother-child relationship quality and adolescent self-esteem. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

[Neighborhood Danger and Maternal Parenting in Medellin-Rome: The Role of Negative Emotional Self-Efficacy].

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effect of perceptions of neighborhood danger on positive parenting and whether it is mediated by the mothers' perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions, comparing two countries: Colombia and Italy. Participants were 434 mothers and children between ages of 8 and 10 years old (108 dyads from Medellin, Colombia and 109 dyads from Rome, Italy). selected by convenience, non-probabilistically and proportionally to the social stratum of each city. Mothers and children answered the neighborhood violence perception scale, mothers also answered the emotional self-efficacy scale and children the Acceptance-Rejection/Control questionnaire. The multigroup analysis found that mothers' self-efficacy in managing negative emotions behaved differently in Colombia compared to Italy. In Colombia, mothers' perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions mediated the link between the effect of perceived neighborhood violence and the quality of mother-child relationship. In Italy, mothers' self-efficacy in managing negative emotions did not mediate this link. Perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions of Colombian mothers indirectly explains the adverse effect of perceived neighborhood danger on positive parenting. With mothers from Rome-Italy, there is no significant relationship between perceived self-efficacy for the management of negative emotions and positive parenting.

Mothers' Functional Limitations and Relationship Quality With Adult Children: Exploring the Moderating Roles of Race and Gender.

Theory and research on intergenerational relations emphasize the salient role that mothers and their adult children play in one another's lives. However, little is known about how mothers' health may shape mother-child relationship quality in later-life. We utilized data from the Within Family Differences Study to explore how mothers' functional limitations affect multiple dimensions of mother-child relationship quality, as reported by mothers and their offspring, with particular emphasis on whether race, child's gender, or generational position moderated these associations. Although mothers' reports of relationship quality were not predicted by their functional limitations, adult children reported higher ambivalence when they perceived their mothers had limitations. Further, adult children in White families reported higher ambivalence when mothers had limitations than did those in Black families. This study highlights the importance of considering the roles of structural factors in shaping the conditions under which health limitations affect mother-child ties.

Verbal Ability, Behavior Problems, and Mother-Child Relationship Quality in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study examined differences in mother-child relationship quality and parent-rated child behavior problems based on child verbal status (i.e., minimally verbal versus verbal) in mothers and their adolescent and adult children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 219 dyads; child Mage = 25.38years, SD = 10.22). Relationship quality was assessed via parent-reported maternal burden and mother-child closeness, and coded speech samples ascertaining maternal critical and positive remarks regarding the child. Groups did not differ in relationship quality. The verbal group was more likely to display disruptive and socially inappropriate behaviors, but otherwise the groups did not differ in behavior problems. Verbal status moderated the relationship between behavior problems and negative (maternal burden, critical remarks) but not positive (mother-child closeness, positive remarks) aspects of relationship quality.

Dyadic development in the family: Stability in mother-child relationship quality from infancy to adolescence.

A central concern of family psychology and developmental science is assessing the stability or instability (i.e., relative standing) of family-level constructs across time. Almost exclusively, such constructs have heretofore been unitary variables. Using a longitudinal design, for the first time, this study traces the developmental stability of the dyadic construct of mother-child relationship quality from infancy to adolescence. Multiple age-appropriate measures converging on the construct of relationship quality were assessed in 375 mother-child dyads at 4 times: 5 months and 4, 10, and 14 years. Mother-child relationship quality showed stability (βs = .18-.53) in all families together, in families with girls and boys, and when family socioeconomic status was controlled. Consistent patterns of relationship quality are developmentally significant in themselves, convert to broader behavioral tendencies in children, and guide more effective intervention designs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well-being?

IntroductionIn accordance with the “resilience paradigm”, this study was aimed at exploring the role of the parent-child relationship in supporting internationally adopted adolescents’ ability to develop a strong adoptive identity and a feeling of satisfaction with their own life. MethodsParticipants were 105 Italian adopted adolescents (13–17 years) asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. ResultsResults showed that adolescents generally feel fairly comfortable discussing adoption-related issues (especially with their mothers), have a medium-high level of adoptive identity, and appear to be quite satisfied with their life. Moreover, while adoptive identity mediates the association between openness in communication regarding adoption and adoptees’ well-being with mothers, father-child communication openness has a direct influence on well-being. ConclusionsFindings highlighted that the quality of mother-child and father-child relationship plays a crucial role in guiding the process of adoptees’ identity formation and influencing their well-being. Recommendations for professionals working with adoptive families were discussed.