Mother-child Relationship Research Articles

The mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction in the relationship between mother-child relationship quality and mobile phone addiction

The mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction in the relationship between mother-child relationship quality and mobile phone addiction

The pathway to maternal protective parenting behavior: Maternal physiology, child temperament, and maternal beliefs.

Protective parenting, when enacted in contexts that do not require it, predicts child anxiety. Both child (e.g., temperament) and maternal (e.g., physiology and cognition) factors relate to parenting behavior, supporting family systems theory. In order to better understand the development of environmental risk for child anxiety, the present study applied the integrated social information and emotion processing theory to protective parenting, assessing concurrent relations among child temperament, maternal physiology, maternal cognitions, and protective parenting in toddlerhood. The present study also investigated whether the theory could be applied to longitudinal relations, testing cognition as a mechanism by which maternal physiology and child temperament predict maternal protective parenting over time. Study participants included 189 mothers (89.9% White, 2.1% Hispanic, 32.3% with annual household income ≤ $40,000) and children (55.6% male, 81.0% White, 3.7% Hispanic). Results indicated that the theory was partially applicable to both concurrent and prospective mother-child relations implicated in child anxiety development. Namely, child inhibited temperament (IT) related concurrently to maternal beliefs about the harm of child anxiety at child age 1 year, and to maternal protective parenting at child ages 2 and 3 years. Maternal baseline respiratory sinus arrythmia related to protective parenting at child age 3 years. Longitudinally, maternal beliefs at child age 1 year predicted maternal perceptions of child IT at child age 2 years. Maternal beliefs at child age 2 years predicted maternal protective parenting at child age 3 years. Although the mechanistic role of cognition was not supported, child emotion processes and maternal cognitions may uniquely contribute to maternal protective parenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Pragmatic acts of humour in family discourse in selected Maryam Apaokagi's comedy skits

Humour plays a crucial role in family discourse as it fosters emotional connection, diffuses tension, and promotes open communication by providing a light-hearted and relatable atmosphere. Extant studies on family discourse have focused on (im)politeness strategies and pragmatic markers. However, scant attention has been paid to the communicative functions of humour in family discourse. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate humour in Maryam Apaokagi’s comedy skits, to identify the types, their pragmatic functions, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the discourse. Jacob Mey’s Pragmatic Acts Theory served as the theoretical framework. Data for the study comprised eight selected Maryam Apaokagi’s comedy skits, produced in Nigeria. The selection is based on their humorous reflections of family issues and subjected to pragmatic analysis. Findings reveal that pragmatic acts exist in four interlocutory contexts among family members: couple (husband-wife) relationship; sibling(s)-relationship; mother-child relationship; and distant-family relationship. The contexts are indexed by eight pragmatic acts and functions which underpin expressions of humour: warning to threaten the husband, promising to raise hopes, requesting to make a mockery of the elder brother, ordering to deliberately disrespect the elder sister, questioning to persuade and apologise indirectly, scolding to condemn a child’s inappropriate actions, exaggerating to boast and show off, speculating to impress the mother and indict the child. Employed with wit to avoid serious conflicts, these humorous acts were largely foregrounded by conversational, psychological and physical acts, and underscored by such contextual factors as inference, reference, relevance, and shared situation knowledge to humorously depict how family issues are variously handled.

The experience of miscarriage and its impact on prenatal attachment during the following pregnancy: A mixed-methods study

BackgroundIn France, miscarriage affects nearly 200,000 women every year. This life event may generate negative effects on the mother-child relationship and the mother's mental health in the following pregnancy. ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of body satisfaction, partner support, resilience and previous experience of a miscarriage on prenatal attachment in pregnant women. DesignThis is a cross-sectional mixed-methods study. Women answered an online questionnaire in the period between November 2022 to April 2023. Participants267 French pregnant women who had previously experienced a miscarriage were recruited for this study. MeasurementsStudy outcomes included prenatal attachment, resilience, partner support, history of previous pregnancies and miscarriages, the current pregnancy, and questions relating to body experience. FindingsParticipants who reported a high investment in the current pregnancy, high partner support and a positive image of their body had higher levels of prenatal attachment. The experience of miscarriage also seems to influence prenatal attachment: pregnancy investment at the time of miscarriage had a positive influence, while medical experience had no significant impact. While the global resilience score was not related to prenatal attachment, sense of control was positively linked to prenatal attachment. Key conclusions and implications for practiceThese results highlight the importance of considering miscarriage as a perinatal loss with potential for long-lasting impact on women, which deserves particular attention from professionals. Enhancing partner support and helping women build a positive image of their pregnant body can also have a role in fostering prenatal attachment to the foetus.

Does broad autism phenotype traits effect mother-child interaction?: a cross-sectional study from Turkey

Objectives Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) is defined as personality, social, and language features that parallel the defining behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, including social deficits, communication abnormalities, and stereotyped repetitive behavior. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of maternal BAP characteristics on the dynamic interaction between mothers and their children. Methods Children aged 12–60 months who were referred to the Infant Mental Health Unit of our outpatient clinic were analyzed. Forty-one children who were diagnosed with autism and 35 children who were diagnosed with global developmental delay (GDD) and their mothers were included in the study. The Parent–Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIR-GAS), Autism-Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire, and Recognition of Emotional Maltreatment Scale (REMS) were used. Results The PIR-GAS score was significantly lower in the autism group than in the GDD group, and mothers of children with autistic children exhibited higher BAP scores. Conclusions Our study suggests a link between maternal BAP scores and the quality of mother-child relationships. Further studies are needed to examine and improve our ability to evaluate the effects of parental BAP in terms of parental intervention effectiveness.

Relations Between Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems and Self-Esteem: Two Multiple Mediation Models With Social Relationships

Personality driven by Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems (BIS/BAS) can significantly influence self-esteem. Humans form self-esteem during social interactions; thus, social relationships may be a critical mediator. This study aims to systematically explore the role of social relationships in these relations among emerging adults. The essential social relationships of emerging adults, including mother-child, father-child, and peer relationships, were examined. Participants ( N = 967, M age = 19.16, 420 females) completed self-reported measures for BIS/BAS, social relationships, and self-esteem. The results demonstrate the mediating effect of social relationships: BIS was negatively related to all social relationships, which were further related to lower self-esteem; BAS was positively related to mother-child and peer relationships, which were further related to higher self-esteem. Moreover, the mother-child relationship emerged as a mediator linking BIS/BAS and father-child and peer relationships in the two models, indicating the unique contribution of mother-child interactions in Chinese emerging adults.

The role of socioeconomic status in U.S. children’s co-viewing television and family member relationship quality over time

ABSTRACT Previous research on family television co-viewing has tended not to examine variation by socioeconomic status (SES). This research uses time diaries from socioeconomically and racially diverse child and adolescent respondents (ages 8–17) from the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) in 2002 (N = 1918), 2007 (N = 1288), 2014 (N = 743), and 2019 (N = 622). I investigate socioeconomic differences in children’s total shared TV time and how SES interacts with children’s TV co-viewing to shape child-reported relationship quality with their most co-viewing family members. I find that parental educational attainment is significantly associated with total shared television time, but not consistently with child-reported closeness to family members. I find that co-viewed television time is only significantly associated with closeness to their most co-viewing family member in some waves for those whose head of household education is less than high school. Mothers being the most co-viewing family member, however, emerged as significantly associated with child-reported closeness at all waves, emphasizing the importance of co-viewing television specifically for the mother-child relationship.

КОНСТРУИРОВАНИЕ ОБРАЗА ВЕДЬМЫ В СОВРЕМЕННОМ ХОРРОРЕ

The article examines the representation of the witch in two horror films: “The VVitch: A New-England Folktale” (2015) and “Hagazussa” (2017). The films are set during the historic period of the witch hunts. The article draws on the theoretical foundations of the “monstrous-feminine” theory by B. Creed and the concept of “disgust” by Yu. Kristeva as its methodological basis. B. Creed's theory seems to be very promising in the analysis of horror films, which are built around a female monster figure, such as a witch. Based on the theory of B. Creed, we can identify three main themes in the construction of monstrous images in these films: mother-child relationships, the concept of purity and dirt and images of disgust. The basis is the female body, which becomes the primary indicator of the monstrous. It is concluded that the images of the monstrous are based on religious prohibitions, and one of the functions of horror is to maintain boundaries and taboos in a post-secular society.

Cognitive and Metacognitive Skills, Maternal Involvement in Education and Mother–Child Relationship Among Mothers of Children With and Without Learning Disabilities

This study aimed to compare the relationship between cognitive and metacognitive skills, involvement in education and mother–child relationship of mothers of children with learning disabilities (LD) and mothers of non-LD children. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 280 mothers were selected by convenience sampling method. The results showed mothers of children with LD had less cognitive and metacognitive skills, school involvement and quality of mother–child relationship than the mothers of non-LD children. The metacognitive skills play a mediating role in the relationship between cognitive skills and mother–child relationship in mothers of children with LD. Maternal involvement in education also has a mediating role in the relationship between metacognitive skills and the mother–child relationship in both groups of mothers with and without LD students. However, these relationships have more support in mothers of children with LD than in mothers of non-LD children.

Child-related factors associated with depressive symptoms among mothers of school-going children in urban Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to identify the child-related factors associated with depressive symptoms among mothers of school-going children in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The study followed a cross-sectional design and was conducted between June and December 2019 among mothers of school-going children from Dhaka City, Bangladesh. A multistage sampling technique was adopted, and a total of 324 mothers of school-going children studying in the same school for at least six months were selected. Depressive symptoms of mothers were measured using a 20-item Self-Rating Depression Scale weighted to 100 percent, with 25-49 categorized as no depression and ≥ 50 as having depression. A binary logistic regression model was executed to identify the child-related factors associated with depressive symptoms among mothers. All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software, Stata (Version 14.0). More than half of the participants (54.3%) were aged 40 years or above and had up to HSC level education (52.5%). The majority of the participants were homemakers (67.0%), mothers of a girl child (53.1%), and had a family income of 50,000 BDT or more (52.8%). Adjusted analyses revealed that the mother's depressive symptoms were associated with their child's frequent complaints of headaches or stomach aches (aOR = 13.19, 95% CI 3.03-57.37), having an injury (aOR = 4.05, 95% CI 1.44-11.41), and unfriendly relationship with mothers (aOR = 21.46, 95% CI 5.04-91.28). The present study highlighted several child-related factors that are associated with depressive symptoms among mothers that need to be considered while designing any intervention to address depressive symptoms among mothers of school-going children. It is also important to counsel mothers and fathers of the children about the importance of having a sound mother-child relationship while addressing depressive symptoms among mothers.

Maternal Childhood Maltreatment and Quality of Child-Mother Relationship: Mediating Role of Meta-Parenting and Parenting Stress

Maternal Childhood Maltreatment and Quality of Child-Mother Relationship: Mediating Role of Meta-Parenting and Parenting Stress

Navigating the Maze: Parental Alienation, Self-Esteem and Parenting Styles

This study examines the interplay between childhood parental alienation, adult self-esteem, and parenting styles experienced during upbringing. The sample comprises 125 Romanian participants (76% female, 24% male), aged 21 to 59 (M= 33.8, SD= 8.88). Distinct datasets were formed based on the absence of either parent during childhood, enabling separate analyses for mother-child and father-child relationships. Results reveal a statistically significant negative association between childhood parental alienation and adult self-esteem. Moreover, a significant positive correlation is found between experiencing democratic parenting during childhood and current self-esteem. The study also demonstrates that the authoritarian parenting style only moderates the relationship between parental alienation and self-esteem within the father-child relationship, albeit at a low to moderate level of influence. Conversely, this effect is not observed within the mother-child relationship. These findings have been further analyzed in the context of current research on the topic, thus contributing to the comprehension, prevention and management of parental alienation, its impact on adult self-esteem, and the promotion of healthier parent-child relationships

Preschool mother-child emotional preparation program leads to significant improvement in autonomic regulation: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionMany studies have documented the profound impact that the mother-child relationship has on child sociality and behavior. However, the biological mechanisms that govern the relationship are poorly understood. We developed a mother-child emotional preparation program (MCEP), based on a novel autonomic nervous system learning mechanism. MCEP is hypothesized to condition the child's autonomic nervous system to better meet the preschool socioemotional classroom challenges.MethodsWe conducted a randomized controlled trial of MCEP, comparing a group of children receiving standard curriculum with children receiving standard curriculum plus MCEP. Previously, we reported that the MCEP mother-child dyads (vs controls) were more emotionally connected at six months post intervention and MCEP children (vs controls) displayed better socioemotional behavior at home and in the classroom. At six months post intervention, mothers and children underwent a stressful interaction-interruption paradigm, during which we acquired child ECG. We analyzed heart rate and several measures of child heart rate variability obtained during the 10-minute post-stress recovery period.ResultsWe found that MCEP children showed better autonomic regulation following the stressor, as measured by lower heart rate (p = 0.017) and increased high frequency respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) or vagal tone (p = 0.043). Surprisingly, despite a sample size limited by COVID (n = 12 and 12), the effect sizes were large (g's ranging from 0.89 to 1.09). In addition, we found significant correlations with large effect sizes between autonomic measures and scores on the Welch Emotional Connection Screen (WECS).DiscussionThese findings support the conclusion that MCEP had a significant positive impact on child autonomic regulation in response to stress, which correlates with behavioral assessments of emotional connection. We discuss theoretical considerations and the implications of our findings for preschool education programs in general. This trial was retrospectively registered (clinicaltrial.gov registry NCT02970565) three months after the start of the first recruitment on April 9, 2019.

‘So the child feels loved’: Mothers with learning disabilities' experiences of attachment and emotional relationships with their children

AbstractBackgroundMothers with learning disabilities are at higher risk of child removal and mental health difficulties and may face more barriers to developing attachment relationships with their children. Mothers with learning disabilities' voices are still underrepresented in research, with less known about those who are actively parenting their children. This study aimed to explore mothers' perceptions of developing emotional relationships with their children.MethodsMothers with learning disabilities who were actively parenting were recruited via advocacy groups across the United Kingdom. Semi‐structured interviews with 10 mothers who self‐identified as having learning disabilities were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThree key themes were generated: (1) Understanding and Facilitating Attachment Relationships, (2) Barriers to the Attachment Relationship and (3) Bidirectional Nature of Relationships: Child Needs Mother, Mother Needs Child. Overarching experiences of powerlessness, autonomy and resilience were prominent across mothers' experiences.ConclusionsMothers acknowledged the importance of close emotional relationships with their children. Subthemes highlighted that mothers recognised the importance of behaviours that mirrored attachment theory, including reciprocity and proximity seeking. Mother–child relationships faced varying challenges including separation and conflict between the mother's and the child's needs. Findings indicate the need to support mothers through a trauma‐informed attachment perspective, especially in the context of maternal mental health needs and where children may also have additional needs.

Emerging Ideas: Personal identity and mother–child relationship: Experiences of young adults raised by single mothers by choice

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis qualitative study examined the experiences of young adults raised by single mothers by choice and the way the circumstances of their upbringing have modeled their personal identity and mother–child relationships.BackgroundBeing conceived through anonymous sperm donation may create uncertainty among children and young adults. However, there is little research on the implications of this situation from the perspective of young adults.MethodIn‐depth narrative interviews were conducted with 21 young Israeli adults born to single mothers by choice as a result of anonymous sperm donation.ResultsThe findings revealed several themes regarding the relationship with the mother, including her image as influential, exclusive, and deeply invested in the relationship. The interviews highlighted anxiety of abandonment and dependency on the mother, who was presented as both powerful and vulnerable or dependent on her child. Participants expressed mix of appreciation and anger toward their mothers' decision. They often conveyed that their mothers had openly and transparently discussed the circumstances surrounding their birth.ConclusionThe experience of children of single mothers by choice conceived by sperm donation is complex, including mixed feelings regarding their relationship with their mother and the effects of the father's absence on their life and identity.ImplicationsThe findings underscore the importance of considering anonymity in sperm donation within policy and bioethical research. Additionally, they carry implications for interventions aimed at supporting single‐mother‐by‐choice families.

Characteristics of mothers at risk for perinatal depression in industrial areas

Expectant mothers susceptible to emotional shifts during pregnancy, such as depression, underwent a perinatal phase. Within the first year after giving birth, 10-15% of women experienced specific depressive symptoms. This situation could harm the mother-child relationship. The purpose of this study was to characterize the traits of mothers who might have experienced prenatal depression at Muhammadiyah Gresik Hospital. Purposive sampling and Spearman's rank test analytics were applied to pregnant women between 20 weeks gestation and one month postpartum. Pregnant women with a history of acute medical problems and mental or psychological disorders were excluded. Out of 47 respondents, 59.6% were at risk of perinatal depression. The characteristics studied included religion, ethnicity, maternal age, educational level, employment status, family income, number of children, mode of delivery, complications during delivery, and depression history. Maternal age (r=-0.314, p=0.032*), employment status (r=0.346, p=0.016*), parity (r=-0.410, p=0.004*), and most recent delivery (r=-0.329, p=0.024*) showed significant correlations with the likelihood of perinatal depression. Maternal age, parity, and mode of delivery had negative correlations, while employment status had a positive correlation. The results of this study can be used as screening tools to identify mothers at risk of perinatal depression. Additionally, it proposes a prenatal and delivery counseling intervention program for both expectant mothers and unemployed women.

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.

The Reflections of Grandmothers’ Care on Mothers’ Child- Rearing Practices

This research employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore the reflections of grandmothers’ caregiving on mothers’ child care practices. Within the research framework, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 mothers, whose children received or are receiving care from their own mothers or mothers-in-law. Following a thematic analysis of the acquired data, three prominent themes emerged: views on child rearing styles, challenges associated with grandmother care, and opportunities related to grandmother care. The results indicate variations in child-rearing styles between mothers and grandmothers, with instances of both alignment and divergence. While grandmother care poses multifaceted challenges to the mother, child or mother-child relationship, it concurrently affords opportunities for increased maternal-child bonding and enhanced comfort in the child care process for the mother. The research findings demonstrate the multidimensional nature of grandmother care process, underscoring the necessity for support mechanisms such as institutional trainings and social services to mitigate potential adverse reflections of this process. Future research could explore different dimensions and long-term reflections of grandmother care.

Effectiveness of “Mom Supports Mom” Peer Support Intervention in Reducing Prenatal Anxiety and Psychosocial Stress Levels

IntroductionThe prenatal period poses a risk of both onset and relapse of mental health difficulties. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are the most common, with a prevalence of 10-20%. Untreated mental health difficulties can have serious consequences for the child’s development, the quality of the mother-child relationship, and the whole family system. Peer support can be an effective form of care for women at risk.ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to examine the effectivness of remote “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention in reducing prenatal anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress levels.Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The Edinburg Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) was used to assess the risk of mental health difficulties in pregnant women. Women with EPDS score ≥ 10 were randomized 1:1 to control and intervention groups. The intervention group received the “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention. The control group received care as usual. Between group-differences in anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress levels were measured one month after the enrollment/the start of the intervention. The Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP) were used to assess the mental health difficulties.Results The study involved a total of 67 participants in the intervention group, and 77 participants in the control group. Levels of anxiety (U = 2016, P < 0.05) and psychosocial stress (U = 1862, P = 0.001) were significantly decreased in the intervention group, showing a medium effect size of the intervention (Cliff’s delta= -0.218 and -0.317, respectively). There was no significant difference in depression levels (U = 2288.5, P = 0.243; Cliff’s delta = -0.113); see Table 1. Table 1Between group differences in study outcomes (n=144) Measuring instruments Intervention group (n=67) Median (IQR)Intervention group 95% Confidence Interval Control group (n=77) Median (IQR) Control group 95% Confidence Interval U value / t valuep-value EPDS (pre)13 (4)12.513.913 (4)12.814.22429.50.545PASS (pre)36 (17)32.038.036 (15)34.039.50.8460.399PPP (pre)18 (4)17.820.317 (6)16.918.82282.50.233EPDS (dif )-6 (6)-6.7-4.1-5 (6)-5.4-3.02288.50.243PASS (dif )-7 (11)-12.3-6.8-5 (13)-7.3-2.420160.024PPP (dif )-2 (4)-4.0-1.60 (4)-1.20.518620.001EPDS = Edinburg Postnatal Depression ScalePASS = Perinatal Anxiety Screening ScalePPP = Prenatal Psychosocial Profilepre = administered at baselinedif = administered post-intervention IQR = interquartile rangeConclusionsThe remote “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention can be effective in reducing anxiety and psychosocial stress levels in at-risk pregnant women. Nevertheless, it didn’t show effectivness in reducing depression levels.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Mother-Child Closeness and Adult Children's Time and Financial Assistance.

Drawing on the intergenerational solidarity framework and life course perspective, the authors assessed how mother-child closeness across different life stages is associated with adult children's time and financial assistance to mothers in later life. Using children's reports of their perceived closeness to mothers from Waves 1 to 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and mothers' reports about adult children's time and financial assistance from Wave 2 of the Add Health Parent Study (AHPS) in the United States, the authors investigated how mother-child closeness during adolescence, emerging adulthood, and young adulthood is related to midlife adult children's support with a focus on difference between mother-daughter (N = 934) and mother-son (N = 899) dyads. Closeness during young adulthood was an important determinant of adult children's time assistance to their mothers, regardless of child's gender. Daughters' closeness with mothers during young adulthood also had a direct association with their financial support to mothers but not sons'. In contrast, sons' perceived closeness during emerging adulthood had a direct association with their financial support later in life. Closeness during adolescence had no direct association with later-life transfers of time or money but had an indirect association through its influence on mother-child relationships at subsequent life stages. Mother-child closeness is a continuously evolving process. Although mother-child bond formed during adolescence has no direct influence on help to mothers later in life, it shapes the progression of mother-child interactions over time that eventuates in support.