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 comprising of 96 mother-infant dyads (infants' mean age = 15.95 months, mean maternal age = 30 years). Parenting stress and obstetric history were assessed through questionnaires while mind-mindedness was observed through a 10minute video recording of mother-infant interactions. Results indicated that among mothers who perceived the pregnancy to have been difficult, those who had planned to conceive were more likely to comment appropriately on their infants' mental states than those who had unplanned conceptions. Appropriate mind-related and non-attuned comments were unrelated to mothers' recollections of their first contact with their newborns. Mothers who displayed a highly emotional reaction of an exclusively positive nature were in the lower parent distress category and experienced lower total parenting stress scores than those who responded neutrally when their babies were first given to them. Controlling for maternal education and income, mothers who were more mind-mindedness had lower levels of parenting stress. Main carer status and daily time spent with child were related to parenting stress. The results are discussed in relation to the need to consider socio-cultural factors that might shape antenatal Maternal Mind-Mindedness Among Chinese Mothers 3 perceptions and influence parenting stress which in turn affect a mother's relationship with her child.

Mind‐mindedness and parenting stress in mothers of preterm and full‐term infants: The moderating role of perceived social support

“…As reviewed in the introduction, previous literature suggests that maternal MM could be affected by negative and traumatic experiences during pregnancy and childbirth (Camisasca, Procaccia, Miragoli, Valtolina, & Blasio, 2017; Dai et al., 2019). Experiencing pregnancy and labor as negative can distort early representations of the child, as the mother does not feel attunement with the newborn from the outset (Meins et al., 2011).…”

“…Studies on this topic (Dai et al., 2019; Meins et al., 2011) confirmed that in Western and non‐Western cultures, the positive recollection of pregnancy and childbirth makes mothers more likely to get attuned to their infants’ mental state and to show AMRC during dyadic interactions. Furthermore, mothers who recalled a highly positive emotional reaction in the first contact with the newborn later reported less parenting stress (Dai et al., 2019). Furthermore, when addressing negative pregnancy and birth experiences, Camisasca, Procaccia, Miragoli, Valtolina and Di Blasio (2017) indicated that mothers reporting childbirth‐related posttraumatic stress symptoms were more likely to make fewer mind‐related comments in the interaction with their children aged 17 months.…”

Exposure to a natural disaster during pregnancy and young children’s behaviour: prenatal and postnatal pathways, and the role of maternal mind-mindedness

“…Findings indicate that neither flood-related objective hardship, nor PTS symptoms, was associated with variability in maternal mind-mindedness, which has implications both for the etiology of mind-mindedness, and the mechanisms by which stress during pregnancy may influence child outcomes. Firstly, a view of maternal mind-mindedness as specific to a particular mother-child relationship suggests that this quality may originate during the prenatal period and be influenced by experiences during pregnancy (Arnott & Meins, 2008;Dai et al, 2017;McMahon et al, 2016;Meins et al, 2011). Current findings suggest that, while maternal mind-mindedness may indeed have precursors in the mother's willingness to represent her fetus as a child with a future (Arnott & Meins, 2008;McMahon et al, 2016), it may be her own attachment style (Madigan, Hawkins, Plamondon, Moran, & Benoit, 2015), rather than conditions surrounding her pregnancy, that may exert the strongest influence on her propensity to consider her fetus as a future infant with a mind.…”

“…showing an association of mind-mindedness with prenatal factors associated with a mother's subjective experience of pregnancy (e.g., evaluations, maternal-fetal attachment), but not objective prenatal factors (e.g., obstetric complications) (Arnott & Meins, 2008;Dai et al, 2017;McMahon et al, 2016;Meins et al, 2011).…”

“…There is evidence to suggest that the tendency for maternal mind-mindedness may originate during pregnancy (Arnott & Meins, 2008). A mother's appropriate mind-mindedness may be predicted by whether or not the pregnancy was planned and by a mother's subjective experience of pregnancy (Dai, Lim, & Xu, 2017;Meins et al, 2011), along with her maternalfetal attachment and tendency to make predictions about her future child's postnatal characteristics (Arnott & Meins, 2008;McMahon et al, 2016). Moreover, there is evidence that pregnant women exhibit increased attention and accuracy for encoding emotion in facial expressions (Pearson et al, 2011;Pearson et al, 2009;Roos et al, 2012).…”