A new measure of toddler parenting practices and associations with attachment and mothers' sensitivity, competence, and enjoyment of parenting

Abstract

Self-determination theorists argue that parents can support or thwart their children's psychological needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence. The first aim of this study was to develop a measure to assess six dimensions of parenting theoretically linked to meeting toddlers' needs. The second aim was to examine the associations of these dimensions with mothers' sensitivity, attachment, and parenting attitudes. Participants were 61 mothers who expressed having parenting difficulties. Mothers completed questionnaires to assess their warmth, autonomy support, structure, rejection, coercion, and chaos, and self-reported their parenting competence and enjoyment. Mother–toddler interactions were observed to assess mothers’ sensitivity, and attachment was assessed with the Strange Situation. Mothers who reported less coercion were more sensitive. Most parenting practices were associated with parents' perceptions of competence and enjoyment of parenting in the expected directions. Self-reported parenting was not associated with attachment, but greater sensitivity was observed among secure compared to insecure mother–toddler pairs.

Keywords:

• self-determination theory
• emotional sensitivity
• parenting practices
• parenting attitudes

Acknowledgements

We extend special thanks to Elbina Avdagic and Leanne McGregor for their work on the intervention programme associated with this project. We also are indebted to Shawna Mastro for her expert data management, and for the assistance of Codi White and Julie McLachlan in data collection and entry, and Judith Warner, Brooke Mitchell, Samantha Ferguson, and Codi White in coding observations of parents and children. The Australian Rotary Association – Mental Health Project Scheme and the Queensland State Government funded this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck is Professor in Applied Psychology and the Griffith Health Institute at Griffith University. She received training in developmental psychology at Portland State University, where she received her Ph.D. in 1998. Her research focuses on relationships and social well-being, coping, emotion regulation, and promotion of health in children and adolescents.

Haley J. Webb is a Research Fellow in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University, and a practicing psychologist. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University in 2013. Her clinical and research work is focused on developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents, and she has a particular interest in parent–child relationships.

Rae Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow at Bond University, Centre for Research in Evidence-based Practice. She received her Ph.D. at Griffith University in 2008. She is a registered Psychologist concentrating her research on developmental pathways of maltreated children and dissemination of evidence-based interventions to community and government organisations.

Stefanie Klag is a Senior Psychologist at Evolve Therapeutic Services, QLD Health. She received her Ph.D. at Griffith University in 2006. Her research interests are in the areas of child maltreatment and abuse, children/adolescents in foster/residential care, and parenting programmes.