Relations between Parenting Stress, Attachment, and Life Satisfaction in Mothers of Adolescent Children

Abstract

Causal relations between parenting stress, attachment, and life satisfaction tested in previous studies are multidirectional, even though grounded in respective theories. Additionally, relations between them are dependent on multiple factors viable to act as potential confounders. We set out to analyze the relation between parenting stress of mothers and their life satisfaction as mediated through their general attachment orientations treated as personal resources hypothesized to act as the filter toward their parenting experiences. Three questions were asked: Is the parenting stress-life satisfaction link mediated through attachment? Does the mediation mechanism differ when attachment dimensions of avoidance and anxiety are analyzed? Is the mediation effect sensitive to potential confounding factors? Data from 575 mothers of adolescents were collected using self-reports. Results revealed that parenting stress-life satisfaction relation is partially mediated through attachment, and that the mediation mechanism is different when anxious or avoidant attachment dimensions are analyzed. Sensitivity analysis revealed that mediation models are sensitive to potentially confounding factors. Trying to tackle potential confounders, we tested economic status and the number of children the mother ever had. None of them had enough power to decrease mediation effects. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications, causality, and recommendations for further research.

Parenting stress and life satisfaction in mothers of children with cerebral palsy: The mediating effect of social support

“…As expected, the correlation results showed that parenting stress was negatively related to life satisfaction. This result is consistent with the results from previous studies on the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction (Hallahan and Kauffman, 1994; Howard, 2010; Lubiewska and Derbis, 2016). In addition, the correlation results revealed that mothers who experience high levels of parenting stress tended to perceive less social support.…”

“…Several studies have explored the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction, and revealed a negative correlation between parenting stress and quality of life in mothers of children with disabilities (Cho and Hong, 2013; Hallahan and Kauffman, 1994). Furthermore, parenting stress can reliably predict life satisfaction (Howard, 2010; Lubiewska and Derbis, 2016). Although the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction has been well established, the potential mechanisms accounting for this relationship remain unknown.…”

The Dynamics of Becoming a Mother during Pregnancy and After Childbirth

“…Subsequently, by about four months after birth, one's self-image as a mother becomes 'autonomous' and separates from the image of one's mother as a mother [1]. The process of identification with the role of mother is related to one's maternal attachment style [3][4][5]. One's own experiences with attachment figures, and if a couple plans and experiences pregnancy are also important factors that influence the transition to motherhood [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Özel Gereksinimli Çocuğa Sahip Ebeveynler ile Tipik Gelişim Gösteren Çocuğa Sahip Ebeveynlerin Stres ve Yaşam Doyum Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi

“…Children of families who are born with a special disability are one of the situations that increase the stress of parenthood (İlhan, 2017). Many studies show that the parents of children with different special needs experience higher levels of parental stress due to the deterioration in the family system than their parents of children with healthy development (Davis and Carter, 2008;Lubiewska and Derbis, 2016;Yıldırım, Aşılar and Karakurt, 2016).…”

“…İlerleyen süreçte çocukta engel durumundan kaynaklı sağlık ve davranış problemleri, aile yakınlarına çocuğun durumunu anlatmada zorluk ve ihtiyaçları gidermeye yönelik ekonomik endişeler var olan stresi daha da artırmaktadır (Avşaroğlu ve Okutan, 2018). Çok sayıda araştırma farklı özel gereksinime sahip çocukların anne babalarının sağlıklı gelişime sahip çocukların anne babalarına göre aile sistemindeki bozulmalara bağlı olarak daha yüksek düzeyde ebeveynlik stresi yaşadığını göstermektedir (Davis ve Carter, 2008;Lubiewska ve Derbis, 2016;Yıldırım, Aşılar ve Karakurt, 2016).…”