Parental prenatal representations of the child are related to 18-month-old children's social-emotional competence
: Lindstedt, Johanna; Korja, Riikka; Carter, Alice; Pihlaja, Päivi; Ahlqvist-Björkroth, Sari
Publisher: Routledge
: 2024
: Attachment and Human Development
: Attachment & human development
: Attach Hum Dev
: 26
: 4
: 383
: 401
: 1461-6734
: 1469-2988
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2024.2376765
: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616734.2024.2376765
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457195926
Parental representations of the child are linked to positive developmental outcomes in children, but the impact of prenatal representations on early social-emotional development, particularly from fathers, is less understood. This study explores how fathers' and mothers' prenatal representations within two-parent families are associated with early social-emotional development. Prenatal representations of fathers (n = 88) and mothers (n = 92) were assessed between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation using the Working Model of the Child Interview, categorizing them as balanced or nonbalanced. The children's (n = 97; 49.5% girls) social-emotional and behavioral problems and competencies were measured at 18 months using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Balanced prenatal representations of both parents were related to higher social-emotional competence in toddlers. However, prenatal representations were not related to social-emotional and behavioral problems. The results highlight the benefits of balanced prenatal representations in promoting early social-emotional competence in children.
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This work was supported by Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation and Turku University Foundation.
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