Beliefs About Sensitive Parenting Among Chinese Cross-Generational Caregivers: The Mediating Role of Education

Abstract

This study investigated beliefs about sensitive parenting of cross-generational caregivers from urban and rural areas of China. A total sample of 135 urban and rural mothers and grandmothers sorted the Maternal Behavior Q-Sort to indicate their view of the ideal mother. These sorts were compared with the expert sort reflecting the highly sensitive mother as defined in attachment theory. Generally, the caregivers from both generations and both urban and rural residence showed beliefs convergent with the notion of sensitivity. The variation in their sensitivity beliefs could be predicted by the caregivers’ generation and this relation was mediated by the caregivers’ education levels. The mothers’ higher educational level predicted views that were more in line with the experts’ view of sensitivity. Caregivers’ education levels also mediated between their urban or rural residence and sensitivity beliefs. The possible implications for differences in parental care and grandparental care in the Chinese cultural context are discussed.

The Role of Grandparental Sensitivity and Parental Sensitivity in Infant Cognitive Development in China: A Pilot Study

“…Different from the elderly in most of the Western countries where independent living is highly valued, Chinese grandparents are expected to play a major role in taking care of grandchildren (Burnette et al, 2012). The involvement of both co-residing and non-coresiding grandparents in childcare is a common experience in many Chinese families (Chen et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2019). Letting G3 grandparents live together with G2 parents is a good way to show filial piety and family solidarity which assumes family members are responsible for taking care of elderly people at home.…”