Background: previous research showed the relationship between the risk status of the mother and child aggression. Attachment has also been related to child aggression and this includes prenatal...Show moreBackground: previous research showed the relationship between the risk status of the mother and child aggression. Attachment has also been related to child aggression and this includes prenatal attachment. If prenatal attachment moderates the relationship between risk status and child aggression, an intervention could be implemented to improve the prenatal attachment in order to prevent or reduce aggression by the child. Research question: Does prenatal attachment moderate the relationship between the risk status of the mother and the aggression of 20-month-old children? Methods: Maternal risk status and prenatal attachment were assessed during pregnancy and aggression was assessed when the children were 20 months old. The mothers were divided into two groups, one group consisted of high risk mothers and the other of low risk mothers (based on criteria by the World Health Organization and a weighted count of the number of risk factors). The mothers completed the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) during the first assessment (pregnancy) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) during the 4th assessment when the children were approximately 20 months old. Analyses of variance were used to examine whether prenatal attachment moderated the association between risk status and child aggression. Results: The risk status of the mother predicted the aggression of the 20-month-old child. There also was a significant relationship between prenatal attachment and risk status. There were no significant relations between prenatal attachment and aggression. Lastly, prenatal attachment did not moderate the relation between the risk status of the mother and the aggression of the child. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the relation between the risk status of the mother and the aggression of the 20-month-old child. An intervention could be introduced when a mother is categorized as high risk. Further research is needed to see which factors could moderate the relationship between the risk status of the mother and the aggression of the child.Show less
This study researched the relation between cognitive functioning, parental perceptions and the sensitivity of young mothers. Studying this relationship is relevant because parental sensitivity is...Show moreThis study researched the relation between cognitive functioning, parental perceptions and the sensitivity of young mothers. Studying this relationship is relevant because parental sensitivity is an important aspect in the development of children's attachment and social-emotional behavior. It was investigated whether cognitive functioning and parental perception separately and together are predictors of sensitivity and whether the relationship between the cognitive functioning and the sensitivity of the mother is mediated by parental perception. The sample consisted of 193 first-time mothers with a age between 18.6 en 28.9 years (M= 24.9, SD=2.29) and their infants aged between 18.7 en 24 months (M=20.4, SD=0.7). Sensitivity was observed during two tasks (Free Play and Teaching Task), cognitive functioning was measured with (part of) the WAIS-III and parental perception was measured with a validated questionnaire (the Parental Cognitions and Conduct Toward the Infant Scale, PACOTIS). Single and multiple regressions showed that cognitive functioning is a significant but weak predictor of sensitivity, parental perception is not a significant predictor and cognitive functioning and parental perception together are significant predictors. However, there was no significant indirect effect of cognitive functioning on sensitivity through parental perception. Mothers with a lower IQ have a risk concerning diminished sensitivity towards their child. However more research is required to investigate which other factors contribute to the development of healthy attachment behavior in general and sensitivity specifically.Show less
Introduction. Prenatal psychopathology affects early and later child development. The present study analyzed limited maternal emotion regulation and bipolarity during pregnancy and infant anxiety,...Show moreIntroduction. Prenatal psychopathology affects early and later child development. The present study analyzed limited maternal emotion regulation and bipolarity during pregnancy and infant anxiety, sadness and aggression at six months. Method. The data derives from the longitudinal study “Een Goed Begin”, in which expectant mothers and their child from the Netherlands were followed during their pregnancy and after birth. For the current study, data from screening instruments were used to perform predictive analyses. Results. Limited maternal emotion regulation during pregnancy was not predictive of anxiety, sadness and aggression in infants at six months. Bipolarity of the expectant mothers was only predictive of aggression of the infants at six months. Collectively, the predictors were not predictive of fear, sadness and aggression. Unexpectantly, positive relationships were found between maternal bipolarity during pregnancy and infant anxiety and aggression at six months when the mother reported low emotion regulation problems. Conclusion. Based on the results it cannot be said with absolute certainty that mood problems in pregnant mothers are predictive of negative emotions in infants at six months. That said, it seems that a high degree of bipolarity symptoms during pregnancy is predictive of anxiety and aggression of the infant at six months.Show less
Dit onderzoek gaat over de invloed van verwachtingen, sociaal-economische status en sociaal netwerk van ouders op externaliserend probleemgedrag bij jonge kinderen.
