The effects of parenting and child temperament on anxiety problems among toddlers: The mediating role of mother-child attachment

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2015

Öğrenci: BAHAR BAHTİYAR

Danışman: SİBEL KAZAK BERUMENT

Özet:

Anxiety problems are frequently seen in early childhood and there are many factors associated with them. Parenting and child temperament characteristics are the two of those factors which have previously been found as related to anxiety problems in toddlerhood. Maternal overprotectiveness and emotional warmth as parenting dimensions; behavioral inhibition and negative emotionality as child temperament characteristics were aimed to investigate in relation with children’s anxiety in the scope of this study. Also, the mediating role of mother-child attachment (particularly secure and ambivalent attachment types) was examined. To accomplish the goals of the present study, home visits were conducted and 90 mother-child dyads participated in this study. Age range of the children was 18 to 36 months. Mothers completed several scales assessing parenting, child temperament characteristics, and anxiety. In addition to mother-reported assessment, observation-based measurement tools were used, as well. Results revealed that, as expected, maternal overprotectiveness, behavioral inhibition, and negative emotionality are positively; whereas emotional warmth is negatively associated with anxiety problems among toddlers. Results were discussed under the light of literature.