Korean J Child Stud. 2000; 21(1): 59-72.

Attachment Representation and Marital Support as Predictors of a Mother's Parenting

2~3 세 유아에 대한 어머니의 양육행동과 관련된 변인들 : 부모에 대한 애착표상 및 부부관계를 중심으로

박성연,임희수

Seong Yeon Park,Hee Su Lim

This study explored the contribution of mother`s representation of her mother and father during early years, marital satisfaction, and husband`s participation in child caring to mothers` parenting behaviors. The subjects were 253 middle-class mothers and fathers in Seoul who had 2-to 3-year-old children. The data were gathered through questionnaires developed for the current study. As predicted, marital satisfaction and husband support as well as early family experiences were significant variables in predicting positive mothering for mothers of young children. However, the most powerful predictor of mothers` parenting turned out to be marital satisfaction. It was noteworthy that mothers who experienced positive and secure relationships with their own mothers were actively involved/intimate with their children whereas mothers who had insecure relationships with their own fathers showed more authoritarian control over their children.