Mother-Child Relationships and Early Child Development in Different Cultures

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

In 1979 Bronfenbrenner proposed his theory suggesting that children’s development is influenced by the proximal environment, including the microsystem (e.g., the parent-child relationship), as well as the distal environment (e.g., ethnicity and culture). Bronfenbrenner’s framework provides the impetus for our combination of presentations.
In a British sample focusing on mother-child relationship when expecting a second child, the first study examined predictors of mother-first-born-child relationship quality. Three domains were examined: child characteristics, maternal personal resources and contextual factors. Results demonstrated that more advanced child effortful control skills and less household chaos predicted better mother-child relationship quality.
In the second study, researchers in Israel investigated whether mothers who are repeatedly exposed to missile warning alarms (auditory stress) may be more sensitive to infant cries (“a human alarm”). Results indicated group differences in child externalizing behavioral problems as well as maternal auditory aversiveness to cry. Significant mediation indicated that maternal perceptions of crying was associated with child behavioral problems, via maternal responsiveness.
Finally, in the third study, Bedouin-Arab mothers giving birth to premature infant were investigated longitudinally. Results indicated that maternal emotional distress and mother-child interaction predicted infant social withdrawal at 12 months postpartum. Furthermore, maternal hostility mediated the link between prematurity and infant social withdrawal.
This symposium will discuss: (1) Consistency in theoretically predictable relations between parents and children across cultures; (2) the importance of assessing child development and mother-child relationship, in context.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chairs

• Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Alison Pike, University of Sussex

Discussant

• Douglas M Teti, The Pennsylvania State University

Individual Presentations

• Predictors of Mother-Child Relationship Quality When Expecting a Second Child - Presenting Author: Sumeyra Yalcintas, University of Sussex; Non-Presenting Author: Alison Pike, University of Sussex; Non-Presenting Author: Rengim Kilavuz, Koc University

• Maternal Perceptions and Responsiveness to Cry in Armed Conflict Zones: Links to Child Behavioral Problems - Presenting Author: Kinneret Levavi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Non-Presenting Author: Porat Yakov, Ben Gurion University of the Negev; Non-Presenting Author: Alison Pike, University of Sussex; Non-Presenting Author: Kirby Deater-Deckard, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Non-Presenting Author: Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• The Link Between Maternal Postpartum Emotional Distress and Infant Early Social Withdrawal Symptoms in Full-term and Preterm Infants Among the Bedouin Society: A Longitudinal Study - Presenting Author: Shuaa Assal Zrike, Ben-Gurion university; Non-Presenting Author: Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev