The relations between maternal mind-mindedness, parenting stress and obstetric history among Chinese mothers

ABSTRACT

Relations between maternal mind-mindedness, parenting stress and obstetric history were investigated in a Chinese sample of 96 mother-infant dyads (M_{infants' age} = 15.95 months, M_{maternal age} = 30 years). Parenting stress and obstetric history were assessed through questionnaires while mind-mindedness was observed through video recordings of mother-infant interactions. Among mothers who perceived their pregnancy to have been difficult, those who had planned to conceive were more likely to comment appropriately on their infants' mental states. Mothers who displayed a highly emotional reaction of an exclusively positive nature when their babies were first given to them experienced lower total parenting stress scores. Mothers who were more mind-mindedness experienced lower parenting stress. Main carer status and daily time spent with child were related to parenting stress. Results are discussed in relation to socio-cultural factors that might shape antenatal perceptions and influence parenting stress which in turn affect mothers' relationships with their children.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese mother–infant dyads
• maternal mind-mindedness
• parenting stress
• obstetric history

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Qian Dai, PhD, is a lecturer at the Center for Psychological Health and Education, Sichuan University, China. Her research interests include psychological health of children and adolescents, and national and social identity development of children.

Ai Keow Lim, PhD, is a research fellow at the Child Life & Health Department in the School of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Her research interests include parent-child relationships and children's peer relationships, social cognition and temperament. More specifically, she is interested in the role of culture on children's development.

Qiu Jie Xu, is a lecturer at the Center for Psychological Heath and Education, Sichuan University, China. Her research interest includes parenting education.

ORCID

Ai Keow Lim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3189-0558

Additional information

Funding

This research reported in this paper has been supported by a grant from Sichuan University (project number skyb201501).