Mediating role of responsive caregiving in the association between maternal reflective functioning and toddlers' social-emotional competence

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0309

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship among maternal reflective functioning, responsive caregiving, and toddlers' social-emotional competence, so as to provide a theoretical basis for promoting toddlers' social-emotional development. Methods From December 2023 to January 2024, 479 mothers of 12- to 36-month-old toddlers from four municipal childcare institutions in Weifang City were selected by convenience sampling method. A self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire, Parental Reflective Functioning Scale (PRFQ), Responsive Caregiving Rating Scale, and the Chinese version of Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Competence Assessment Scale were used in this survey. The effects of maternal reflective functioning and responsive caregiving on young children's social-emotional competence were analyzed, and Amos 28.0 software was used to construct a structural equation model to verify the mediating role of responsive caregiving. Results 1) The influence of children's gender (t=-3.783), age in months (t=-4.585), being an only child (t=2.324), and family's average monthly income (F=3.643) on young children's social-emotional competence was statistically significant (P<0.05). 2) Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation among maternal reflective functioning scores, responsive caregiving, and young children's social-emotional competence (r=0.326 - 0.503, P<0.01). 3) Mediation analysis revealed that maternal reflective functioning significantly predicted young children's social-emotional competence (β=0.590, P<0.001), and responsive caregiving partially mediated the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and young children's social-emotional competence, with a mediating effect of 0.157, accounting for 21.02% of the total effect. The model fit well (χ²/df=2.908, RMSEA=0.063, NFI=0.926, IFI=0.950, TLI=0.934, CFI=0.950, GFI=0.953, and AGFI=0.926). Conclusion Maternal reflective functioning and responsive caregiving have significant effects on young children's social-emotional competence, and responsive caregiving partially mediates the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and young children's social-emotional competence.

Key words: toddlers, responsive caregiving, parental reflective functioning, social-emotional, mediating role

摘要： 目的探讨母亲反思功能、回应性照护水平及幼儿社会情绪能力间的关系,为促进幼儿社会情绪发展提供一定的理论依据。方法 2023年12月—2024年1月,采用便利抽样法,选取潍坊市4所市级托育机构479名12~36月龄幼儿的母亲为研究对象,采用自行编制的社会人口学问卷、父母反思功能量表(PRFQ)、回应性照护评价量表及中国城市幼儿社会情绪能力评估量表进行调查。分析母亲反思功能与回应性照护对幼儿社会情绪的影响,使用Amos 28.0软件构建结构方程模型,验证回应性照护的中介作用。结果 1)幼儿性别(t=-3.783)、月龄(t=-4.585)、是否为独生子女(t=2.324)及家庭平均月收入(F=3.643)对幼儿社会情绪能力的影响具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。2)Pearson相关分析显示,母亲反思功能得分与回应性照护及幼儿社会情绪能力两两之间呈显著正相关(r=0.326~0.503, P＜0.01)。3)中介分析显示,母亲反思功能显著预测幼儿社会情绪能力(β=0.590, P＜0.001),回应性照护在母亲反思功能与幼儿社会情绪能力中起部分中介作用,中介效应为0.157,占总效应的21.02%,模型拟合指数为χ²/df =2.908,RMSEA=0.063,NFI=0.926,IFI=0.950,TLI=0.934,CFI=0.950,GFI=0.953,AGFI=0.926。结论母亲反思功能和回应性照护对幼儿社会情绪能力有显著影响,且回应性照护在母亲反思功能与幼儿社会情绪能力中起部分中介作用。

关键词: 幼儿, 回应性照护, 父母反思功能, 社会-情绪, 中介作用

CLC Number:

R174

YU Haiyan, WANG Ruiling, ZHENG Shuo, MA Wenbo. Mediating role of responsive caregiving in the association between maternal reflective functioning and toddlers' social-emotional competence[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care, 2024, 32(12): 1294-1299.

于海燕, 王瑞玲, 郑硕, 马文博. 回应性照护在母亲反思功能与幼儿社会情绪能力间的中介作用[J]. 中国儿童保健杂志, 2024, 32(12): 1294-1299.

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