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Gepubliceerd in:

14-09-2022 | Original Paper

Mothers’ Personal Growth in View of their Perception of the Infant and Perceived Support

Auteur: Orit Taubman–Ben-Ari

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 11/2022

Abstract

The transition to motherhood is a challenging period that entails not only multiple stresses, but also the potential for personal growth. This study examined mothers’ personal growth up to two years following the birth of their first child, investigating the contribution of the child’s perceived characteristics and three sources of perceived support, as well as the possibility that the connection between support and personal growth is mediated by perception of the infant. Israeli mothers (n = 511) completed self-report questionnaires. Positive associations were found between higher perception of the infant as warm, lower perception of the infant as invasive, and higher perceived support from all sources. Moreover, path analysis revealed that higher perceived support from family and a significant other was associated with higher perception of the infant as warm, which in turn was related to higher personal growth. The findings highlight both the direct value of support from various sources and its ability to promote a more positive perception of the child, along with the role of new mothers’ perception of their infant in facilitating the experience of personal growth. Practitioners should therefore pay attention both to mothers’ assets and to risk factors for a negative interpretation of the child’s behavior.

vorige artikel Mainland Chinese Mothers’ Autonomy Support Across Four Caregiving Contexts

volgende artikel The Role of Grandparental Sensitivity and Parental Sensitivity in Infant Cognitive Development in China: A Pilot Study

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Titel: Mothers’ Personal Growth in View of their Perception of the Infant and Perceived Support
Auteur: Orit Taubman–Ben-Ari
Publicatiedatum: 14-09-2022
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 11/2022
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02438-3

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