Structuur bieden en stellen van grenzen: de modererende rol van de persoonlijkheid van moeders

Abstract

Introduction: Given toddlerhood is characterized by a rapid increase in children’s sense of autonomy, it is crucial for parents to adequately structure novel situations and set consistent limits to their child’s behaviour. Moreover, children’s self-regulation capacities and parental personality traits may facilitate or complicate this parenting challenge. The current study therefore tested whether children’s self-regulation capacities are positive associated with maternal structure and limit-setting, and whether this relation is moderated by maternal neuroticism and agreeableness. Method: 178 mothers (M = 35.48 years, 80.9% highly educated) of 36-month-old children participated in this research. Self-regulation capacities were assessed through parent report. Structure and limit setting was measured through coded video’s taken of structured mother-child interactions. Maternal personality was assessed through self-report. Firstly, the research questions were investigated with Spearman’s correlation analysis. Secondly, two moderation analyses were performed to investigate whether maternal neuroticism and agreeableness have a moderating effect in this relationship. Results: Analyses showed no significant relationship between self-regulation capacities and structure and limit setting. Maternal neuroticism and agreeableness did not have a moderating effect. Discussion: There is no significant relationship between self-regulation capacities of toddlers and maternal structure and limit setting. These results were not line with previous research. Maternal neuroticism and agreeableness appeared to not be moderating this. Future research directions and implication are discussed.