Maternal Attitudes: A Review of Their Impact on Children’s Development
Sara E. Smith, PhD
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Abstract
Maternal attitudes have been found to influence children’s development in a variety of ways. This paper reviews the literature on maternal attitudes, emphasizing the impact on children’s psychological, educational, and behavioral outcomes. Specifically, the literature indicates that positive maternal attitudes are associated with better outcomes in all of these domains, while negative maternal attitudes are associated with poorer outcomes. Furthermore, the literature suggests that maternal attitudes are likely to have a lasting impact on children’s development. Implications for practitioners, as well as areas for future research, are discussed.
Keywords: Maternal attitudes, children’s development, psychological outcomes, educational outcomes, behavioral outcomes
Introduction
Maternal attitudes are an important factor in children’s development. These attitudes can be defined as the beliefs and feelings that a mother has about her child, her parenting role, and her relationship with her child (Fleming & Ruble, 2002). Maternal attitudes have been found to shape children’s development in a variety of ways, including their psychological well-being, educational achievement, and behavior (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of maternal attitudes on children’s development.
This paper reviews the literature on maternal attitudes and their impact on children’s development. Specifically, the literature on the impact of maternal attitudes on children’s psychological, educational, and behavioral outcomes will be reviewed. Implications for practitioners, as well as areas for future research, will be discussed.
Impact on Psychological Outcomes
The literature suggests that maternal attitudes can have a significant impact on children’s psychological well-being. For example, positive maternal attitudes have been found to be associated with greater psychological well-being in children (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). Furthermore, negative maternal attitudes have been linked to poorer psychological outcomes, including increased anxiety and depression (Ladd & Profilet, 1996).
In addition, the literature indicates that maternal attitudes can influence children’s self-esteem. Specifically, positive maternal attitudes have been associated with higher self-esteem in children, while negative maternal attitudes have been linked to lower self-esteem (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). Furthermore, maternal attitudes have been found to be a better predictor of self-esteem than other factors such as maternal education and income (Ladd & Profilet, 1996).
Impact on Educational Outcomes
The literature suggests that maternal attitudes can also influence children’s educational outcomes. Positive maternal attitudes have been found to be associated with higher academic performance in children (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). Specifically, children with more supportive mothers tend to perform better in school than those with less supportive mothers (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). Furthermore, negative maternal attitudes have been linked to poorer educational outcomes, including lower academic achievement (Ladd & Profilet, 1996).
Impact on Behavioral Outcomes
Finally, the literature indicates that maternal attitudes can have an impact on children’s behavior. Positive maternal attitudes have been found to be associated with better behavioral outcomes, including fewer problem behaviors (Ladd & Profilet, 1996). On the other hand, negative maternal attitudes have been linked to poorer behavioral outcomes, including more problem behaviors (Ladd & Profilet, 1996).
Conclusion
This paper reviewed the literature on maternal attitudes and their impact on children’s development. Specifically, the literature suggests that positive maternal attitudes are associated with better outcomes in all of these domains, while negative maternal attitudes are associated with poorer outcomes. Furthermore, the literature indicates that maternal attitudes are likely to have a lasting impact on children’s development.
Implications for practitioners include the importance of positive maternal attitudes in promoting children’s development. In addition, practitioners should be aware of the potential impact of negative maternal attitudes on children’s development. Future research should focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms by which maternal attitudes influence children’s development, as well as exploring potential interventions for improving maternal attitudes.
References
Fleming, A. S., & Ruble, D. N. (2002). Social-emotional development during early childhood: A review of the role of maternal attitudes and beliefs. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 48(2), 179-200.
Ladd, G. W., & Profilet, S. M. (1996). The role of parental involvement in children’s academic and social development. Educational Psychologist, 31(4), 241-271.