Sensitivity to the Child’s Needs in Mothers of Two Generations
Keywords:
sensitivity, attachment, sleep, physical contact, breastfeedingAbstract
A mother’s sensitivity to her child’s needs significantly contributes to the child’s development of secure attachment and is conditioned by her working models of attachment. Our research examined intergenerational differences in meeting a child’s needs. We compiled a questionnaire, which was completed by mothers and grandmothers of preschool children from every Slovenian region (number of respondents was 654). In addition to questions on their responses to the child’s crying, their sleeping habits, physical contact, and breastfeeding, the questionnaire also included The Relationship Questionnaire to establish the respondents’ attachment style. We have found that, between the two generations, the intensity of mother/child contacts has increased. The number of non-secure attachment styles, which are expectedly negatively correlated with the mother’s sensitivity, has declined. Results have revealed an increase in the mothers’ proclivity towards child-rearing approaches that have a supposedly positive impact on young children’s psychophysical development and display sensitivity to their needs.
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