Relationship between responsive caregiving and social support  in infants and young children

XU Yuying; GUO Chenming; WANG Lei; DONG Xueli; WANG Suqing; LU Yaping; YU Liping

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0091

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3) : 319-323. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0091

Clinical Research

Relationship between responsive caregiving and social support in infants and young children

XU Yuying^1*, GUO Chenming^1*, WANG Lei², DONG Xueli², WANG Suqing¹, LU Yaping^1,3, YU Liping¹

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Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between the level of responsive care and caregivers' social support, so as to provide a theoretical basis for improving the level of responsive care for infants and young children. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 896 infants and young children who received health examinations in the child health clinic of Wuchang District Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Wuhan from March 2023 to January 2024. General information questionnaire, Social Support Scale, and Infant and Young Child Responsive Caregiving Scale were used for the survey. The correlation between caregivers' social support and responsive care for infants and young children was analyzed, along with its influencing factors. Results The level of responsive care was correlated with children's health status (Z=-4.127), child insurance (H=10.873), paternal education level (H=9.092), maternal education level (H=9.254), family's per capita monthly income (H=9.642), and marital relationship (H=44.810) (P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between responsive care for infants and young children and social support (r=0.176, P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that after controlling for demographic factors, social support still had a significant positive effect on the level of responsive care for infants and young children (β=0.206, 95%CI: 0.08 - 0.25, P<0.01). Conclusions Social support affects the level of responsive care in infants and young children. Health care professionals should provide caregivers with guidance on nurturing care to improve the level of responsive care for infants and young children.

Key words

responsive caregiving / social support / infants and toddlers

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XU Yuying, GUO Chenming, WANG Lei, DONG Xueli, WANG Suqing, LU Yaping, YU Liping. Relationship between responsive caregiving and social support in infants and young children[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(3): 319-323 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0091

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