Leiden University Student Repository

Vree Egberts, Nicky (2024)

OUDERSCHAP NA EMOTIONELE VERWAARLOZING: De mediërende rol van maternale emotionele stabiliteit en opvoedstress in de relatie tussen emotionele verwaarlozing in de kindertijd en later positief ouderschap

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Emotional neglect, characterized by a lack of sensitive caregiving, is the most common and the most rapidly increasing form of child maltreatment worldwide, with far-reaching consequences for individuals' emotional, neurobiological, and social development. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the relationship between experiences of emotional neglect in childhood and later positive parenting in mothers. Specifically, the potential mediating roles of parenting stress and emotional stability were examined. Data originated from a cohort study (2016-2020) conducted by the Verwey-Jonker Institute. The sample consisted of 757 mothers, of whom 233 reported a history of emotional neglect. The results indicated that emotional neglect was not directly, but indirectly associated with lower levels of positive parenting through increased parenting stress and reduced emotional stability. Using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, it was determined that parenting stress played a stronger...Show moreEmotional neglect, characterized by a lack of sensitive caregiving, is the most common and the most rapidly increasing form of child maltreatment worldwide, with far-reaching consequences for individuals' emotional, neurobiological, and social development. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the relationship between experiences of emotional neglect in childhood and later positive parenting in mothers. Specifically, the potential mediating roles of parenting stress and emotional stability were examined. Data originated from a cohort study (2016-2020) conducted by the Verwey-Jonker Institute. The sample consisted of 757 mothers, of whom 233 reported a history of emotional neglect. The results indicated that emotional neglect was not directly, but indirectly associated with lower levels of positive parenting through increased parenting stress and reduced emotional stability. Using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, it was determined that parenting stress played a stronger mediating role than emotional stability in the relationship between emotional neglect and positive parenting. Limitations of this study include potential selection bias, limited measurement of key variables, and failure to meet the assumptions of multiple regression. These factors may affect the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the results, which therefore should be interpreted with caution. Nevertheless, this study provided several important insights. It underscores the need for interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress and enhancing emotional stability in mothers with a history of emotional neglect. Interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be helpful in improving coping mechanisms, both for stress reduction and emotion regulation, and enhancing resilience among these mothers. This study emphasizes the need for targeted support to address the potential effects of trauma caused by emotional neglect, and to foster positive parenting practices.Show less

emotional neglect, parenting stress, emotional stability, positive parenting

Author

Vree Egberts, Nicky

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Forensische Gezinspedagogiek

Supervisors

Mitch van Geel

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl