Maternal and Paternal Attachment Style and Chaos as Risk Factors for Parenting Behavior

Maternal insecure attachment representation as a long-term risk factor for disrupted mother-child-interaction and child mental health

Maternal childhood maltreatment (CM) represents an important factor in the transmission of trauma that may lead to impaired child mental health. Apart from childhood maltreatment insecure attachment has been identified as a risk factor for insensitive caregiving behavior, which may affect child's mental health. The aim of this study is to identify the working mechanisms in the relationship between maternal CM and child mental health, considering maternal attachment representation, mother-child-interaction und maternal helplessness and fear. N = 103 mother-child-dyads from a longitudinal cohort study were examined at four different measuring points. Data was assessed using self and external report questionnaires as well as the AMBIANCE scales during the Strange Situation Procedure and the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). Maternal CM experience did not predict an insecure attachment representation (OR = 2.46 [0.98, 6.53], p = .060). Maternal insecure attachment was associated with higher AMBIANCE scores (F(8, 94) = 11.46, p < .001), which indicates more disrupted communication between mother and child. AMBIANCE scores in turn predicted higher self-perceived helplessness (F(9, 93) = 8.62, p < .001) and fear (F(9, 93) = 7.40, p < .001) in mothers. Helplessness and fear both were associated with higher SDQ-scores, indicating more mental health problems in children (F(10, 92) = 3.98, p < .001; F(10, 92) = 3.87, p < .001). The results of this study highlight how even insecure attachment in a low-risk sample has a long-term impact on parenting behavior and child mental health, therefore underlining the need of early intervention programs in affected and at-risk families.

Callous-Unemotional Traits and Co-occurring Anxiety in Preschool and School-age Children: Investigation of Associations with Family's Socioeconomic Status and Home Chaos

While contemporary literature has traditionally viewed youth with Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits as a homogeneous group, there is a growing interest in delineating two variants of CU traits based on high or low levels of anxiety. Extensive attention has been brought in the CU traits literature to the study of relational factors such as maltreatment and parenting practices. However, very few studies have looked at other environmental contexts in which the children within these two variants evolve, such as home chaos or socioeconomic status (SES). In a community sample of children aged 4 to 9, divided into a preschool sample (N = 107; Mage = 4.95, SD = 0.62) and a school-age sample (N = 153; Mage = 7.49, SD = 1.11), the current study investigated whether anxiety moderates the associations of CU traits with SES and home chaos. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that CU traits were positively associated with home chaos, regardless of anxiety levels. CU traits were negatively associated with SES, but this effect emerged only at high levels of anxiety. Notably, these findings were observed solely in the school-age subsample. Implications for understanding the two variants of CU traits (i.e., primary and secondary) and hypotheses regarding their developmental trajectories are discussed.

Household chaos, child temperament, and structure-related feeding practices in toddlerhood: A moderation analysis

Structure-related feeding practices may promote intuitive child eating behaviors and foster responsiveness to internal cues of hunger and satiety. Caregivers' ability to engage in structure-related feeding practices likely depends on a complex ecology of factors, including household- and child-characteristics. This study examined associations between household chaos and structure-related feeding practices, and the moderating effect of child temperament. Data were from 275 caregiver-toddler dyads from central Ohio. Child temperament was reported by caregivers when children were 18 months of age, whereas household chaos and structure-related feeding practices were reported by caregivers when children were 36 months of age. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to assess the relationship between chaos and structure-related feeding practices. Interaction terms between household chaos and three dimensions of child temperament were tested to determine whether temperament moderated the relationship between chaos and structure-related feeding practices. Household chaos was not independently associated with structure-related feeding practices, but higher levels of child effortful control were associated with greater mealtime structure. There was a statistically significant interaction between household chaos and child temperamental surgency, such that greater levels of chaos were associated with less structured mealtimes, but only when children had low-surgency. Findings suggest household chaos and child temperament inform caregiver feeding practices, but the influence of chaos may depend on more proximal factors, like child temperament. Recommendations to improve caregiver-child feeding interactions should be sensitive to characteristics of the broader family home environment.

Validation of Self-Reported Attachment Classification Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Parents of Young Children

BACKGROUND

The Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) was developed to measure individual differences in insecure adult attachment and was suitable for populations that may have minimal or no experience in romantic relationships. The measure was previously validated on homogenous populations.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to verify construct validity and internal consistency of the ASQ among an ethnically and racially diverse sample of caregivers of young children ages birth to 3 years.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, we examined the psychometric properties of the ASQ. A racially and ethnically diverse sample of caregivers of young children (birth to 3 years old) completed the 40-item measure. Factor analyses and internal consistency analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the previously published factor structures were not a good fit for this diverse sample. Exploratory factor analysis with promax rotation revealed a four-factor solution among 16 items, including relationship anxiety, relationships as secondary, discomfort with closeness, and relationship distrust. Adequate internal consistency was noted for the factors, and structural invariance was confirmed across Hispanic and non-Hispanic ethnicities.

DISCUSSION

Nurse scientists and practitioners should take caution when using or developing indices based on previous research. There should be consideration of structural stability and replication across the intended population.

Ten years later: Satisfaction with intimate relationships and parenthood of young people aging out of residential care

BACKGROUND

Care leavers, young people who have aged out of residential or foster care, experience many challenges during their transition to adulthood. However, there is relatively little research on care leavers' intimate relationships. Their parenthood has been explored to a greater extent, but mostly qualitatively.

OBJECTIVE

This study focused on Israeli care leavers a decade after leaving care and explored various factors associated with satisfaction with both intimate relationships and parenthood.

METHODS

One-hundred-and-fifty-two young people participated in the study ten years after leaving care. Toward the end of their 20s, 74.3% were either married or had stable intimate relationships, and 40.1% were parents. To assess satisfaction with intimate relationships and parenthood, two hierarchical regressions were conducted that examined the cumulative contribution of background factors (care variables and traumatic life events), personal characteristics (self-esteem, mental distress, and alcohol use) and social support.

RESULTS

Satisfaction with intimate relationships was associated with higher income, fewer traumatic life events, and higher self-esteem. Gender moderated the association of traumatic life events with satisfaction with intimate relationships. Satisfaction with parenthood was associated with fewer traumatic events throughout care leavers' lives; it was also associated with lower levels of mental distress and alcohol use and with higher levels of satisfaction with intimate relationships. Gender moderated the association of mental distress with satisfaction with parenthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Ten years after leaving care, care leavers' backgrounds (i.e., their traumatic life events) were strongly associated with their situation as adults. Other risk factors such as alcohol use and mental distress were especially relevant to care leavers' satisfaction as parents, demanding longitudinal interventions. Further exploration of the role of gender in satisfaction with intimate relationships and parenthood is needed.

The causal effect of household chaos on stress and caregiving: An experimental study

The correlational nature of previous studies on household chaos does not allow claims about causal effects of household chaos. The present study used an experimental design to assess the causal effect of household chaos on stress, negative emotions, and caregiving. Ninety-six female students (18–25 years) participated in our study. They took care of an infant simulator in a normal living room (neutral condition), and a chaotic living room (chaos condition), while caregiver sensitivity was observed, operationalized as perceiving, correctly interpreting, and responding accurately and promptly to the infant's signals. Participants reported on their current emotional state, and saliva was collected four times for analysis of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). Results showed that there were no significant time or condition effects on negative emotional state. Yet, sAA levels were higher in the chaos condition compared to the neutral condition. We found no evidence for negative emotional state or sAA mediating the relation between household chaos and caregiver sensitivity. Because household chaos affected physiological stress in a parenting situation, it should not be ignored when using interventions aimed at reducing stress in parents. More research is needed on the effect of reduced (as opposed to increased) levels of household chaos on physiological stress levels in families with young children.

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Household chaos is causally related to physiological stress in a caregiving context.

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Household chaos does not affect self-reported negative emotions.

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No evidence for stress mediating the relation between household chaos and caregiving.