Distinct mechanisms linking romantic attachment dimensions to harsh discipline among Chinese parents of young children

IF 1.8 3区社会学 Q2 FAMILY STUDIES

Family Relations Pub Date : 2025-02-21 DOI:10.1111/fare.13154

Zhou Jin, Minjie Ye, Hui Lu, Lanyue Chen, Wenyue Chen, Hongsheng Yang, Lei Chang, Deborah Baofeng Wang, Yili Wu

{"title":"Distinct mechanisms linking romantic attachment dimensions to harsh discipline among Chinese parents of young children","authors":"Zhou Jin, Minjie Ye, Hui Lu, Lanyue Chen, Wenyue Chen, Hongsheng Yang, Lei Chang, Deborah Baofeng Wang, Yili Wu","doi":"10.1111/fare.13154","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>This study aims to explore the mediating role of parental reflective functioning (PRF) and parental sense of competence (PSC) in the effect of romantic attachment on harsh discipline among Chinese parents of young children through both variable- and person-centered approaches.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Harsh discipline is a negative parenting practice that has detrimental impacts on children. Evidence showed that parents' insecure romantic attachment may contribute to the use of harsh discipline, whereas the psychological mechanism underlying this association remains unclear.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Method</h3>\n \n <p>Participants were 489 Chinese parents of children aged 0 to 5 years. Validated scales were used to assess romantic attachment, PRF (assessed by the prementalizing modes dimension), PSC, and harsh discipline. Mediation analysis and latent profile analysis were conducted.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>PSC mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and harsh discipline, whereas PRF and PSC played a chain-mediating role between attachment anxiety and harsh discipline. By using the person-centered approach, three profiles of attachment were identified: secure (46.8%), dismissive (23.9%), and fearful (29.2%). Compared to secure profile, PRF and PSC sequentially mediated the link between dismissive/fearful profile of attachment and harsh discipline.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>The mediating roles of PRF and PSC elucidated psychological mechanisms for the impact of romantic attachment on harsh parenting, particularly among couples with dismissive and fearful attachment.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Implications</h3>\n \n <p>Improving PRF and PSC is crucial for preventing harsh parenting among insecurely attached couples.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":48206,"journal":{"name":"Family Relations","volume":"74 4","pages":"1831-1849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Family Relations","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fare.13154","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"FAMILY STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to explore the mediating role of parental reflective functioning (PRF) and parental sense of competence (PSC) in the effect of romantic attachment on harsh discipline among Chinese parents of young children through both variable- and person-centered approaches.

Background

Harsh discipline is a negative parenting practice that has detrimental impacts on children. Evidence showed that parents' insecure romantic attachment may contribute to the use of harsh discipline, whereas the psychological mechanism underlying this association remains unclear.

Method

Participants were 489 Chinese parents of children aged 0 to 5 years. Validated scales were used to assess romantic attachment, PRF (assessed by the prementalizing modes dimension), PSC, and harsh discipline. Mediation analysis and latent profile analysis were conducted.

Results

PSC mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and harsh discipline, whereas PRF and PSC played a chain-mediating role between attachment anxiety and harsh discipline. By using the person-centered approach, three profiles of attachment were identified: secure (46.8%), dismissive (23.9%), and fearful (29.2%). Compared to secure profile, PRF and PSC sequentially mediated the link between dismissive/fearful profile of attachment and harsh discipline.

Conclusions

The mediating roles of PRF and PSC elucidated psychological mechanisms for the impact of romantic attachment on harsh parenting, particularly among couples with dismissive and fearful attachment.

Implications

Improving PRF and PSC is crucial for preventing harsh parenting among insecurely attached couples.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在中国的幼儿父母中，将浪漫依恋维度与严厉管教联系起来的独特机制

目的通过变量研究和以人为本研究，探讨父母反思功能（PRF）和父母能力感（PSC）在中国幼儿父母浪漫依恋对严厉管教的影响中的中介作用。严厉的管教是一种消极的养育方式，对孩子有有害的影响。有证据表明，父母不安全的爱情依恋可能会导致严厉管教的使用，而这种联系背后的心理机制尚不清楚。方法研究对象为489名0 ~ 5岁儿童的中国父母。经验证的量表用于评估浪漫依恋、PRF（通过预化模式维度评估）、PSC和严厉纪律。进行中介分析和潜在剖面分析。结果PSC在依恋回避与严厉管教之间起中介作用，而PRF和PSC在依恋焦虑与严厉管教之间起链式中介作用。采用以人为中心的方法，确定了三种依恋类型：安全型（46.8%）、不屑一顾型（23.9%）和恐惧型（29.2%）。与安全型人格相比，PRF和PSC依次介导了依恋轻视/恐惧型人格与严厉管教之间的联系。结论PRF和PSC的中介作用阐明了浪漫依恋对严厉教养的影响的心理机制，特别是在轻蔑型和恐惧型依恋的夫妻中。改善PRF和PSC对于防止不安全依恋夫妻的严厉教育至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Family Relations Multiple-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

13.60%

发文量

164

期刊介绍： A premier, applied journal of family studies, Family Relations is mandatory reading for family scholars and all professionals who work with families, including: family practitioners, educators, marriage and family therapists, researchers, and social policy specialists. The journal"s content emphasizes family research with implications for intervention, education, and public policy, always publishing original, innovative and interdisciplinary works with specific recommendations for practice.