Patterns of relating between mothers and preschool‐aged children using the Marschak Interaction Method Rating System

This study assesses the relationship of patterns of relating between mothers and their preschool‐aged children. Thirty‐one families were used, and the mother and child participated in the Marschak Interaction Method Rating System (MIM‐RS). Mothers also completed the Demographic Data Questionnaire. Correlations based upon the MIM‐RS for mothers and their preschool‐aged children produced significant results. Mother's ability to structure, challenge, engage, nurture and facilitate their child's regulatory processes positively related/influenced their preschool‐age child's ability to demonstrate exploratory behaviors, reciprocity with their parent and to demonstrate regulatory behaviors. A parent who was not able to structure, challenge, engage, nurture and facilitate their child's regulatory processes produced a child who was not capable of exploring their environment, regulating their own self‐regulatory processes or staying within a comfortable and communicative stance with their parent.     

Parent food purchases as a measure of exposure and preschool-aged children's willingness to identify and taste fruit and vegetables

This study explored whether parents who purchase more fruit/vegetables have preschool-aged children who are able to identify fruit/vegetables and in turn are more likely to consume them. Sixty-two parent-child pairs were recruited during a 4-month period. The data collection included a child interview, a parent/guardian interview, a fruit/vegetable taste test for children, and a month-long food-receipt collection by the parent/guardian. As the percentage of fruit/vegetables purchased by parent increased, the child was more likely to accept all of the fruit/vegetables offered to him/her. A weak correlation was found between the child's ability to name fruit/vegetables and their willingness to try the fruit/vegetables offered. A trend was established between the child's ability to name the 10 fruits/vegetables and parent fruit/vegetable purchases. Parents who purchased the most fruit/vegetables, causing increased exposure, had children who were more willing to taste the fruit/vegetables offered to them.     

Sex-typing behavior and sex-typing pressure in child/parent interaction

The sex-typing of children and the sex-typing pressure of parents was investigated during free play in a home visit. There were 30 male and 24 female 45-month-olds observed with their mothers and fathers in separate free-play sessions during which an array of both sex-stereotyped and neutral toys were available. Behavioral observations were recorded for a variety of parent, child, and dyadic behaviors, including initiations of sex-typed play, total sex-typed play, and rough-and-tumble play. Children initiated sex-typed play and played with sex-appropriate toys. Father-child and mother-daughter dyads were more likely to engage in thematic play appropriate to the child's sex, while in mother-son dyads equal amounts of masculine and feminine play occurred. In addition father-son dyads displayed the highest levels of rough-and tumble play and arousal of child by parent. The results suggest that fathers are the discriminating influence on sex-appropriate play.     

中日两国母亲哺育期育儿压力影响因素的比较研究

目的:通过中日跨文化比较,探讨了不同环境对母亲育儿压力的影响。方法:采用育儿压力问卷和居住社区育儿环境评估问卷,对中国天津市180名和日本静冈县130名0～3岁婴幼儿的母亲进行调查。结果:①中国母亲对所在社区育儿环境的认可度低于日本母亲;②中国母亲的育儿压力高于日本母亲;③多元回归分析表明:孩子年龄、母亲年龄、社区育儿环境对两国母亲的育儿压力均有明显的影响;母亲工作、家庭结构对中国母亲的育儿压力有明显的影响;子女人数对日本母亲的育儿压力有明显的影响。结论:社区育儿环境因素对母亲育儿压力的影响大于子女、母亲自身和家庭因素。     

Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Primary and Tertiary Care: Differences and Similarities

This study sought to identify child and parent characteristics differentiating children with recurrent abdominal pain seen by a pediatrician (RAP-Peds) from those seen by a gastroenterologist (RAP-GI). Children (7-10 years) and mothers in three groups (RAP-GI, RAP-Peds, and Controls) completed mother and child reports of child's functional disability, internalizing symptoms, and somatic complaints, and mother report of her anxiety and somatization. Child report did not differentiate groups. RAP mothers were more likely than Control mothers to focus on somatic complaints in themselves and their children. Mother report of child disability was strongly related to tertiary care for child's recurrent abdominal pain.     

Parenting practices that limit transitional object use: an illustration

This study investigated the phenomenon of transitional object (TO) use by young children who have been parented within the framework of Attachment Parenting (AP). A sample of 275 mothers were recruited through an international magazine marketed towards AP mothers. Mothers who indicated they had children who were parented with such AP methods as breastfeeding, feeding on the infants' cue, cosleeping, and holding their child during the transition to sleep were placed into a high contact group and found to use traditional TOs significantly less than the children whose mothers did not practice these four behaviors. Only 18.2% of the sample was found to use TOs and those who did use them weaned at a significantly earlier age than children with no TO. The idea that the use of a TO may be hierarchical in nature is discussed, with the suggestion that an infant who is supported and comforted during stress by the mother does not tend to use a TO or they use the breast.     

Parenting practices that limit transitional object use: an illustration

This study investigated the phenomenon of transitional object (TO) use by young children who have been parented within the framework of Attachment Parenting (AP). A sample of 275 mothers were recruited through an international magazine marketed towards AP mothers. Mothers who indicated they had children who were parented with such AP methods as breastfeeding, feeding on the infants' cue, cosleeping, and holding their child during the transition to sleep were placed into a high contact group and found to use traditional TOs significantly less than the children whose mothers did not practice these four behaviors. Only 18.2% of the sample was found to use TOs and those who did use them weaned at a significantly earlier age than children with no TO. The idea that the use of a TO may be hierarchical in nature is discussed, with the suggestion that an infant who is supported and comforted during stress by the mother does not tend to use a TO or they use the breast.     

"Childhood overweight and obesity: maternal perceptions of the time for engaging in child weight management"

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There is an increasing awareness of the impact of parental risk perception on the weight course of the child and the parent's readiness to engage in preventive efforts, but only less is known about factors related to the parental perception of the right time for the implementation of preventive activities. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the appropriate time to engage in child weight management strategies, and the factors associated with different weight points at which mothers recognize the need for preventive actions. METHODS: 352 mothers with children aged 2-10 years took part in the study. We assessed mothers' perceptions of the actual and preferred weight status of their child, their ability to identify overweight and knowledge of its associated health risks, as well as perceptions of the right time for action to prevent overweight in their child. A regression analysis was conducted to examine whether demographic and weight related factors as well as the maternal general risk perception were associated with recognizing the need to implement prevention strategies. RESULTS: Although most of the parents considered a BMI in the 75th to 90th percentile a valid reason to engage in the prevention of overweight, 19% of the mothers were not willing to engage in prevention until their child reached the 97th percentile. Whereas the child's sex and the identification of an elevated BMI were significant predictors for parents' recognition of the 75th percentile as right point to engage in prevention efforts, an inability to recognize physical health risks associated with overweight silhouettes emerged as a significant factor predicting which parents would delay prevention efforts until a child's BMI reached the 97th percentile. CONCLUSION: Parental misperceptions of overweight and associated health risks constitute unfavorable conditions for preventive actions. Feedback on the health risks associated with overweight could help increase maternal readiness for change.     

Coping Behaviors,Parenting, and Perceptions of Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Rural African American Mothers

Abstract: We tested a hypothetical model linking maternal education and maternal coping behavior with parent‐child relationship quality, and in turn, children's self‐regulatory behavior and mental health difficulties. Consistent with predictions, mothers’ use of active coping behaviors predicted more positive parent‐child relationship quality, greater child self‐regulatory behavior, and fewer perceived behavioral and emotional difficulties in children. Implications of these findings for intervention with rural African American mothers are discussed.     

Exploring Determinants of Parent Behaviors During Eating Episodes

ObjectiveTo develop a conceptual model of determinants of parent feeding behaviors with preschoolers.DesignSemistructured in-depth interviews were collected and transcribed verbatim.SettingUniversity of Houston.ParticipantsParents of preschool-aged children (aged 2–5 years).Phenomenon of InterestDeterminants of parent behaviors during eating episodes with preschoolers.AnalysisTrained coders conducted thematic analysis with constant comparison of all interviews.ResultsThe final sample (n = 20) included predominantly white (60%), married (70%) mothers (75%) from middle socioeconomic conditions (100% had at least some college education; 70% had a household income >$50,000). Five categories of themes emerged: child behaviors, proactive parent behaviors, reactive parent behaviors, contextual factors, and parent beliefs. The themes were organized into a conceptual model to describe how parents and children influenced each other's behaviors depending on the context and parent beliefs of themselves and their child.Conclusions and ImplicationsA conceptual model outlining several determinants of parent feeding behaviors among preschoolers was developed. Next steps in the research are to validate the conceptual model identified in this qualitative study on a large, nationally representative sample.