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Kids allowed to be kids make better parents

Date:
September 29, 2015
Source:
Michigan State University
Summary:
Mothers who took on burdensome caregiving roles as children -- and weren't allowed to just 'be kids' -- tend to be less sensitive to their own children's needs, finds new research.
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Mothers who took on burdensome caregiving roles as children -- and weren't allowed to just "be kids" -- tend to be less sensitive to their own children's needs, finds new research led by a Michigan State University scholar.

The findings suggest these parents do not understand appropriate child development and end up parenting in a similar harmful manner in which they were raised. The study is online now in advance of print publication in the Journal of Family Psychology.

"If your childhood was defined by parents expecting you to perform too much caregiving without giving you the chance to develop your own self-identity, that might lead to confusion about appropriate expectations for children and less accurate knowledge of their developmental limitations and needs as infants," said Amy K. Nuttall, assistant professor in MSU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies and lead author on the study.

"If mothers don't understand their children's needs," Nuttall concluded, "they're not able to respond to them appropriately."

Burdensome, adult-like caregiving, or "parentification," can involve routine parenting and disciplining of one's siblings, excessive chores and responsibilities around the house, and serving as the main emotional support system for parents.

For the study, 374 pregnant women from low-income households in four U.S. cities were surveyed about their upbringing. After birth, the mothers' parenting techniques were observed several times during an 18-month period.

Mothers who engaged in excessive, adult-like caregiving as children were less likely to respond warmly and positively to their infant's needs and interests and to put their child's need for exploration and independence over their own agenda.

A previous study led by Nuttall, which also appeared in the Journal of Family Psychology, found the children of mothers who engaged in excessive caregiving during childhood went on to display behavioral problems. Together, the studies have important implications for developing parent-education programs for mothers who were overburdened by caregiving roles in childhood.

Nuttall said instruction about infant development might be best served in prenatal classes. Women are more likely to attend prenatal classes than parenting classes offered after birth.

"Prenatal parenting classes may be particularly useful for teaching accurate knowledge of child development and appropriate expectations about children's abilities even before mothers give birth and begin parenting," Nuttall said.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Michigan State University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Amy K. Nuttall, Kristin Valentino, Lijuan Wang, Jennifer Burke Lefever, John G. Borkowski. Maternal History of Parentification and Warm Responsiveness: The Mediating Role of Knowledge of Infant Development.. Journal of Family Psychology, 2015; DOI: 10.1037/fam0000112

Cite This Page:

Michigan State University. "Kids allowed to be kids make better parents." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 September 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150929125441.htm>.
Michigan State University. (2015, September 29). Kids allowed to be kids make better parents. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150929125441.htm
Michigan State University. "Kids allowed to be kids make better parents." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150929125441.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

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