University of Haifa Study Finds Relations with Parents Can Effect Women's Bonding with Their Own Kids

Recently, Mum Mum’s has discussed the affects the bond between parent and child can have on a child’s future development.  Many factors play a role in just how hat special bond gets created, as well a mother’s development of her own parenting skills.  In an attempt to explore these parental variables, a new study reveals that a mother’s perception of her relationship with her own parents can affect how she bonds with her new baby.

Researchers at the University of Haifa revealed that expecting women are more likely to have less trouble shifting into the role of mother if they perceive their childhood relationship with their parents as stable.  Conversely, women who deny negative experiences in relationships during early childhood have a preconceived notion that they will experience less warmth in their relationship with their future child, when compared with other women in the study.

The women studied consisted of 160 Jewish women who lived with their spouse or partner.  Researchers looked at how the women viewed themselves as future mothers and their soon-to-be relationship with their baby through thoughts, emotions, and expectations.  Two different identity building approaches were used.  The first is based on how people’s perceptions of early childhood relationships affect thoughts and behaviors throughout life.  The second focuses on the current differences between people who are motivated by avoiding failure and those are motivated by the desire to succeed.

The majority of the women who had difficulty recalling precise negative events, but felt they were rejected by their parents, had positive thoughts about motherhood and their unborn child.  Yet, in comparison with other women in the study, these women did not expect to have a close, warm relationship with their baby.

The women who had an overall balanced perspective on childhood relationships with their parents had the most positive view of impending motherhood.  These women expected a warm relationship with their baby, and felt they would not experience a great deal of separation anxiety. 

Lastly, women who sought to advance and to reach established goals saw their child and themselves in a more positive light as mothers.  Women who were characterized by concern with self-preservation and security, viewed their role as a mother much more negatively than the other women in the study.  The researchers hope the study will encourage expecting women to evaluate their thoughts and concerns about becoming a mother; so that they can find the tools and help they need to have a healthy transition into motherhood.

Tags: bonding

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 8:13 pm and is filed under General Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.