Novel Approaches to Characterize Observed Maternal Behavior in Various Cultural Contexts

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

This symposium assembles international researchers to present and discuss different observational methods to characterize maternal behavior in developmental populations. Maternal sensitivity in mother-child interactions has been found to be a predictor of various childhood outcomes. Despite the importance of this construct, most sensitivity measures overlook different cultural backgrounds and nor do they assess evolutionary preserved features of parenting that rely on animal models. Context matters for development and new methods assessing maternal behavior in different cultural contexts are necessary to better understand child developmental outcomes and replicability of evolutionary aspects of parenting. The current symposium introduces observational behavior measures that can be evaluated through 10-15-minute mother-child interactions and shows the value of these measures in different cultural groups. The first presentation evaluates maternal norm enforcement behaviors during interactions with preschoolers in three culturally distinct groups: mothers residing in Turkey and Germany, and mothers who are Turkish immigrants in Germany. The second and third presentations leverage a novel approach that has been validated cross species (i.e., rodent, monkey, and human) that focuses on maternal behaviors preserved throughout evolution. This method evaluates unpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals, which are visual, tactile, and auditory inputs mothers provide during interactions with their children, and child internalizing behaviors in the United States and Finland. Taken as a whole, these talks underscore moving beyond traditional research and testing new, conceptual methods in different cultural contexts. These presentations will be discussed by a leading expert on sociocultural factors impacting development, especially among children from marginalized populations.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Özlü Aran, University of Denver

Discussant

• Cynthia Teresa García Coll, University of Puerto Rico

Individual Presentations

• 1. Cross Cultural Comparison of Maternal Profiles of Reaction to Conflict With Their Pre-School Children - Presenting Author: Ayse Busra İplikci, Akdeniz University; Julian Busch, Ruhr-Universität Bochum; Moritz Köster, Freie Universität Berlin

• 2. Unpredictability of Maternal Sensory Signals and Child Internalizing Behaviors in Middle Childhood - Presenting Author: Özlü Aran, University of Denver; Danielle Swales, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Curt Sandman, University of California, Irvine; Laura Glynn, Chapman University; Hal Stern, University of California, Irvine; Tallie Z Baram, University of California-Irvine; Elysia Poggi Davis, University of Denver

• Unpredictable Maternal Sensory Signals During Toddlerhood and Child Sadness and Fearfulness During Preschool Years - Presenting Author: Riikka Korja, University of Turku; Eeva Holmberg; Hetti Lahtela, University of Turku; Elisabeth Nordenswan, Åbo Akademi University; Eeva-Leena Kataja; Hasse Karlsson, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku; Linnea Karlsson, University of Turku; Saara Nolvi, University of Turku