Journal of Woman and Family Studies
Investigating the Relationship between Mother's Coping Styles and Children's Physical and Emotional Performance Mediated by Mother's Maladaptive Schemas of Abandonment and Distrust During the Prevalence of Covid-19
Document Type : Research/Original/Regular
Authors
1 Faculty member of Al-Zahra University, Faculty of Psychology, Tehran, Iran
2 Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Stress Coping Strategies of mothers on the Physical and Emotional performance of children 1 to 6 years old during the COVID-19 Epidemic The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Stress Coping Strategies of mothers on the quality of life of Preschool Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The method of this study is descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the study included all mothers with children aged 1 to 6 years. The sample consisted of 325 mothers who completed the questionnaires online. Data were collected using Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (Ciss), TNO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life Questionnaire (TAPQOL), Early Maladaptive Scheme (YSQ- SF). The analysis of research data was performed by path analysis method and LISREL The results of the fitting indices confirmed the theoretical model assumed in the research and showed that in addition to the direct relationship between the mother's coping styles and the child's physical and emotional performance, between these two variables through liberation and distrust schemas. There is an indirect relationship (p <0.01). The findings indicate that maternal coping styles in times of corona crisis affect the physical and emotional functioning of children aged 1 to 6 years through release and distrust schemes. Thus, training of appropriate strategies for mothers to reduce the maladaptive schemas and to teach proper coping strategies for increase quality of life of children is essential.
Highlights
onclusion
According to the analysis results, the hypothetical model was confirmed, and the mother's coping styles can predict children's physical and emotional functioning mediated by abandonment and distrust schemas. In other words, during the Corona crisis, the mother's coping styles with the crisis, mediated by abandonment and distrust schemes, have a significant effect on 1 to 6 years old children's physical and emotional functioning. These results are consistent with the research by Clark et al. (2020), Park (2020), Atadokht et al. (2014), which indicate the role of a mother's coping styles in predicting behavioral problems and children's mental health.
Keywords
Main Subjects
Extended Abstract
Background and purpose
On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization and the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the new virus as Covid-19. The uncertainty and low predictability of Covid-19 not only threatens individuals's physical health but also affects individuals's mental health (Li et al., 2020).
Although children do not seem to be less vulnerable than adults, an important subject that is easily ignored is the psychological impact of social isolation on children during quarantine. Preliminary reports suggest that children and adolescents are psychologically affected by the disease and show behavioral problems (Bow and Lee, 2020).
Parents' perceived stress caused by this crisis is related to parents' increased anxiety and, in turn, associated with increased anxiety and stress in children (Chung, Lanier, and Wong, 2020). With the prevalence of Covid-19, parents who experience high stress and anxiety are less likely to respond to their children's needs (Marazziti et al., 2020), which this lack of responsiveness, in turn, is a strong predictor of lower quality of life. Since high stress in mothers can also lead to behavioral and emotional problems in children, stress coping strategies play an important role in physical, mental, and emotional well-being (Atadokht et al., 2014).
On the other hand, poor interaction in a family can be caused by early maladaptive schemes that affect behavioral disorders. Early schemas are individuals' beliefs about themselves, others, and surroundings, usually developed by suppressing emotional needs in childhood (Young et al., 2010). Specific events or situations activate different maladaptive schemas. This leads to extremely impactful experiences and the use of (maladaptive) coping strategies that directly or indirectly cause psychological distress (Mairet et al., 2014).
Psychological health problems in children are closely linked to the negative factors of a negative family environment. Mother's maladaptive coping styles have a central role in forming a dysfunctional family. Studies suggest the dysfunctional role of mothers' coping styles related to parenting styles in their children's mental health (Nikolaev et al., 2016). The stress experienced by parents may affect their adjustment to childcare. Research shows that the stressors in the mothers' lives negatively affect their children's physical and mental health (Safdar, 2006).
Methods
This study is descriptive-correlational research. The study population consisted of Iranian mothers with children aged 1 to 6 years in May 2020, which were internet users. The sample size is 325 subjects, which was determined by the convenience sampling method. Due to the critical condition of the country and the social distancing plan governing the society, the questionnaires were designed online and distributed on social media. After completing the tests, the data were analyzed by path analysis using LISREL software.
Stress Coping Styles Questionnaire (CISS)
This questionnaire was developed by Endler and Parker (1990) and consisted of 48 items that measure three coping strategies: problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping. Each subscale has 16 rated by 5 Likert points.
Preschool Children Quality of Life Questionnaire: This questionnaire has 43 items and consisted of two sections, one part and two parts. The two parts questions rated from 0 to 4 (Jayakod et al., 2018). It has four subscales: physical, social, cognitive, and emotional functioning.
Young-Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ- SF): This is a self-report instrument for measuring schemas, in which the individual rates him or herself on a six-point Likert scale based on the description of each item. The short form of the original 75 items questionnaire is used in this study, which measures 15 schemas in 5 general categories.
Results
Table 1.
Correlation coefficients among study variables
|
Variables |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
Problem-oriented |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emotion-oriented |
**.78 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avoidance-oriented |
**.75 |
**.74 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Abandonment |
**.15 |
-.06 |
.00 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Distrust |
**.36 |
**.13 |
**.16 |
**.32 |
1 |
|
|
|
Physical functioning |
**.35 |
**.18 |
**.14 |
**.24 |
**.23 |
1 |
|
|
Emotional functioning |
**.39 |
**.28 |
**.25 |
.08 |
**.21 |
**.29 |
1 |
Figure 1.
Existing effects, path coefficients in proposed model
Conclusion
According to the analysis results, the hypothetical model was confirmed, and the mother's coping styles can predict children's physical and emotional functioning mediated by abandonment and distrust schemas. In other words, during the Corona crisis, the mother's coping styles with the crisis, mediated by abandonment and distrust schemes, have a significant effect on 1 to 6 years old children's physical and emotional functioning. These results are consistent with the research by Clark et al. (2020), Park (2020), Atadokht et al. (2014), which indicate the role of a mother's coping styles in predicting behavioral problems and children's mental health.
Ethical considerations
Compliance with the research ethics
All ethical principles are followed in this article. The participants were allowed to leave the study whenever they wanted. All participants were also informed about research, and their information was kept confidential.
Funding: This article is derived from the authors' research and received no funding.
Authors' contribution: The first author participated in all stages of the study by reviewing the article and collaborating in completing the research idea, the second author presented the research idea, responsibility for designing and conducting the research, collecting data and writing a part of the article, and the third author was responsible for the research design, data analysis and writing another part of the article.
Conflict of interest: The authors acknowledge that there is no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank all mothers who have help us in this research by their participation
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