Mediating role of responsive caregiving in the association between maternal reflective functioning and toddlers' social-emotional competence

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship among maternal reflective functioning, responsive caregiving, and toddlers' social-emotional competence, so as to provide a theoretical basis for promoting toddlers' social-emotional development. Methods From December 2023 to January 2024, 479 mothers of 12- to 36-month-old toddlers from four municipal childcare institutions in Weifang City were selected by convenience sampling method. A self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire, Parental Reflective Functioning Scale (PRFQ), Responsive Caregiving Rating Scale, and the Chinese version of Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Competence Assessment Scale were used in this survey. The effects of maternal reflective functioning and responsive caregiving on young children's social-emotional competence were analyzed, and Amos 28.0 software was used to construct a structural equation model to verify the mediating role of responsive caregiving. Results 1) The influence of children's gender (t=-3.783), age in months (t=-4.585), being an only child (t=2.324), and family's average monthly income (F=3.643) on young children's social-emotional competence was statistically significant (P<0.05). 2) Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation among maternal reflective functioning scores, responsive caregiving, and young children's social-emotional competence (r=0.326 - 0.503, P<0.01). 3) Mediation analysis revealed that maternal reflective functioning significantly predicted young children's social-emotional competence (β=0.590, P<0.001), and responsive caregiving partially mediated the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and young children's social-emotional competence, with a mediating effect of 0.157, accounting for 21.02% of the total effect. The model fit well (χ²/df=2.908, RMSEA=0.063, NFI=0.926, IFI=0.950, TLI=0.934, CFI=0.950, GFI=0.953, and AGFI=0.926). Conclusion Maternal reflective functioning and responsive caregiving have significant effects on young children's social-emotional competence, and responsive caregiving partially mediates the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and young children's social-emotional competence.

Keywords

toddlers / responsive caregiving / parental reflective functioning / social-emotional / mediating role