Child temperament and parental stress: The moderating role of maternal reflective functioning

Objective

This study aimed to explore the role of parental reflective functioning in moderating the effects of child temperament on parental stress among mothers of preschool children.

Background

Extensive research has highlighted the detrimental impact of parental stress on parental well-being and child development. However, gaps remain in understanding how various determinants contribute to parental stress.

Method

A total of 185 mothers of children aged 3 to 6 years completed the Children's Behavior Questionnaire Short Form, the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and the Parenting Difficulties Scale.

Results

Regression analyses showed that higher levels of negative affectivity and lower levels of effortful control in children were associated with increased parental stress. Moreover, higher prementalizing and higher interest and curiosity of mental states in mothers were related to higher parental stress. Moderation analyses revealed that low mentalizing serves as a significant risk factor in the relationship between children's characteristics and parental stress. Specifically, a positive relationship was found between children's surgency, negative affect, and elevated parental stress when mothers exhibited high prementalizing and low certainty of mental states.

Conclusion

Our findings highlighted the complex interplay between child temperament, parental reflective functioning, and parental stress, underscoring the importance of these factors in understanding parental well-being.

Implications

These findings imply the importance of considering both child temperament and parental reflective functioning in interventions aimed at reducing parental stress. Tailored strategies targeting specific aspects of mentalizing may enhance parent–child interactions and alleviate stress.