Is the ideal mother a sensitive mother? Beliefs about early childhood parenting in mothers across the globe

Abstract

In this article, we test the hypothesis that beliefs about the ideal mother are convergent across cultures and that these beliefs overlap considerably with attachment theory's notion of the sensitive mother. In a sample including 26 cultural groups from 15 countries around the globe, 751 mothers sorted the Maternal Behavior Q-Set to reflect their ideas about the ideal mother. The results show strong convergence between maternal beliefs about the ideal mother and attachment theory's description of the sensitive mother across groups. Cultural group membership significantly predicted variations in maternal sensitivity belief scores, but this effect was substantially accounted for by group variations in socio-demographic factors. Mothers living in rural versus urban areas, with a low family income, and with more children, were less likely to describe the ideal mother as highly sensitive. Cultural group membership did remain a significant predictor of variations in maternal sensitivity belief scores above and beyond socio-demographic predictors. The findings are discussed in terms of the universal and culture-specific aspects of the sensitivity construct.

Parenting and SES: relative values or enduring principles?

“…Thus, the judgments that have been made about “good” and “bad” parenting are influenced by the backgrounds and rearing experiences of those in the position to draw such conclusions, a caution that also applies to the authors of this review. Although parenting quality must, to some degree, be defined as context-specific (Cabeza de Baca & Ellis, in press, this issue) and “in the eye of the beholder”, we also do not deny the reality of parenting practices that can be deemed good or bad irrespective of circumstance (Mesman et al, 2015). Thus, we recognize the harmful nature of abusive, neglectful, or other clearly adverse parenting practices, as well as the supportive, attentive and nurturing behaviors that characterize good parenting.…”

Reconsidering Attachment in Context of Culture: Review of Attachment Studies in Japan

“…Mesman et al (2016) found a strong convergence between the ideal mother and the sensitive mother across cultures, showing that contemporary Japanese mothers appear to share similar views across cultures with regard to what is the ideal mother. This study, however, did not include an assessment of child attachment, warranting the need for attachment-sensitivity studies in Japan.…”

“…More recently, Mesman et al (2016) investigated mothers' views of the ideal mother and the sensitive mother, comparing 26 cultural groups from 15 countries, including Japan. Mesman et al (2016) found a strong convergence between the ideal mother and the sensitive mother across cultures, showing that contemporary Japanese mothers appear to share similar views across cultures with regard to what is the ideal mother.…”

The Myth of Universal Sensitive Responsiveness: Comment on Mesman et al. (2017)

“…In an attempt to advocate the universality of attachment theory (e.g., Mesman et al., ), Mesman et al. () focus on sensitive responsiveness.…”

“…In an attempt to advocate the universality of attachment theory (e.g., Mesman et al, 2015), Mesman et al (2017) focus on sensitive responsiveness. But this focus ignores the other five aspects of parenting identified by Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, and Wall (1978).…”